Buoyed by the recent switch of top CPI-M leader to the party fold, the Trinamul Congress is now applying tactics to rope in other members of the Left Front-run Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad (SMP), so that the ruling party can introduce a no-confidence motion after 15 May, the day the current SMP board completes two-and-a-half years.

The Left camp has, meanwhile, also challenged the ruling party to bring in such a motion, and alleged that the Trinamul was offering money to their SMP members. It may be mentioned here that as per rules, a party cannot introduce a no-trust motion in the SMP until the board completes two-and-ahalf years.

Such activities in relation to the SMP gained momentum following the departure of the former CPI-M MLA and a member of the SMP board, Choton Kisku (SNS file photo), last week. “The process is on to bring other members in the party fold. The deadline of twoand- a-half years will end on 15 May. Our party leaders will be busy till the completion of the three-tier rural polls on 14 May. Accordingly, we will bring in a no-confidence motion against the board after 15 May,” a senior Trinamool Congress leader said.

While the magic figure at the SMP board is five, the Left has five members and the TMC four at present. Trinamul sources said that the party will tread cautiously as it tries to lure members this time around, as the parties tall claims on this earlier have all come to naught.

Despite claims, the party has not been able to introduce notrust motions neither at the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC), the only Left-run civic body in the state, nor the SMP. Opposition leader at the SMP, Kajal Ghosh, said in carefully chosen words that the party was taking “appropriate steps” to introduce the no-confidence motion.

Darjeeling district Left Front convener and CPI-M secretary Jibesh Sarkar, meanwhile, said they would launch a campaign in rural areas against the ‘unethical attempts’ of the ruling party.

SMP Sabhadhipati Tapas Sarkar said all ‘attempts’ of the Trinamul Congress would go in vain. “Not everyone surrender before relentless muscle flexing, intimidation and lures. Despite several attempts, they would not be able to break the unity of the Left members,” Mr Sarkar said.

He alleged that the ruling party was offering money to members to join the Trinamul. Mr Ghosh, however, ruled out the allegations. “There is no question of luring or intimidating anyone, because we do not believe in that. Those who are joining our party are doing so only because of the development work of the state government,” he said.