Shubhendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, along with BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul, addressing a press conference, in Kolkata. , Photo Credit: ANI
With panchayat elections in West Bengal round the corner, Leader of the Opposition Shubhendu Adhikari claimed in the assembly on Friday, March 10, 2023, that 34 per cent of the seats in the 2018 polls had gone uncontested and he had won. ruling Trinamool Congress
Claiming that the 2003 panchayat polls during the CPI(M)-led Left Front rule and the 2018 polls under the TMC rule have set a bitter precedent, Mr Adhikari said he hoped the state government would conduct the state polls Will help the commission to conduct free elections. And fair elections in 2023.
He said that in the 2018 panchayat elections in the state, 34 per cent seats had gone uncontested during TMC rule.
Participating in the debate on the budgetary demands for the financial year 2023-24 for the state’s panchayat department, he said that in the 2018 panchayat elections, out of a total of 78,492 seats, 20,269 seats were won unopposed.
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Mr Adhikari claimed that a lot remains to be done to ensure that the actual beneficiaries under various welfare schemes have water supply at home, toilet or household.
He said that the job card of the MNREGA beneficiaries should be linked with the Aadhaar card so that the amount reaches the bank account of the labourers.
Responding to the allegations of the Leader of Opposition, Panchayat Minister Pradeep Majumdar said that if the opposition members can provide proof of corruption in welfare schemes, then the state government will investigate the matter.
Stating that the state government has completed the task of linking job cards with Aadhaar of more than 95 per cent beneficiaries, Mr Majumdar said the Center has not yet released MNREGA funds to West Bengal.
The House passed by a voice vote the minister’s proposal for a budgetary grant of Rs 26,583.52 crore to the Panchayat and Rural Development Department of West Bengal.