KMC marks shortest ever monthly session

Kolkata: The monthly session of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation on Friday (KMC) was perhaps the shortest in its history with only a single question and a single proposal. The session lasted for less than half an hour with only a single question from Congress Councillor Prakash Upadhyay that was answered by Mayor-in-Council (Health) Atin Ghosh and a single proposal on which Mayor Sovan Chatterjee deliberated.

KMC chairperson Mala Roy said after the session: "I cannot recollect such a short session in the civic body at least in the last 10 years. It seems that the Opposition has lost its interest in the House. Some of the questions came up with questions after the scheduled date which were naturally not taken into account. There have been instances when the Councillors of the ruling party have not come up with queries in the House. But today's (Friday) case is unprecedented."

There are 14 Left Councillors, three BJP Councillors and two Congress Councillors among the 144 Councillors in the KMC. It is learnt that Mayor Sovan Chatterjee has also expressed his disappointment. "I have been a part of this House for 32 years since my days of being a Councillor but I am unable to recollect such a short session," Chatterjee said in his close ranks.

Congress Councillor Prakash Upadhyay said: "I usually put up two questions and two proposals in every House session. But I had gone to Puri so I didn't get the time. However, it is amazing that there are no other questions. The prestige of the House is at stake."

Chayan Mukherjee, Left Front Councillor, however, said that they demanded an adjournment motion on various issues like Narada, camera of the journalists not being allowed and the voice of the Opposition being stifled but it was rejected. "We had posed questions on water distribution but it was not taken up," Mukherjee said.

Chairperson Roy, however, differed. "The adjournment motion is brought on a public interest issues. However, the Opposition is turning the House into a place of politics which is undesirable," she added.