Cong, Left members defect; Cong loses Malda zilla parishad

Kolkata, Aug 22 (PTI) In a blow to Congress in itsstronghold Malda, 14 Congress and Left members today switchedover to Trinamool Congress, giving the ruling party in WestBengal control of the district’s council. State Transport minister and TMC’s in-charge of Maldadistrict Suvendu Adhikari told reporters that in the 38-memberMalda zilla parishad, eight Left and six Congress members,including ZP sabhadhipati Sarala Murmu, joined the partyduring the day, while two Samajwadi Party members extendedsupport. Dipali Biswas, who won on CPI(M) ticket in the Assemblypoll, and a zilla parishad member had joined TMC last month. He said that those who joined TMC did not support the"unethical alliance" between Congress and Left during the lastAssembly election. "They have also been inspired by the development worksundertaken by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee," hesaid. Today’s development is significant as TMC drew a blankin Malda in the last Assembly poll, held only about threemonths ago. Congress also faced a serious challenge to defend itszilla parishad in neighbouring Murshidabad district as eightof its members, one of CPI(M) and another from AIFB hadrecently joined TMC taking the number of TMC zilla parishadmembers to 29 in the 70-member council. State Congress president and MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhuryhailed from Murshidabad district. Adhikari had earlier claimed that within the next fewmonths his party would take control of Murshidabad and Maldazilla parishads. PTI SUN MMKIS