Kumai takes back quit notice

Kalimpong, June 16: GNLF leader C.K. Kumai did a U-turn today by withdrawing his resignation as the chairman of the Kalimpong Municipality as well as the councillor of Ward 14.

In a letter to the board of councillors of the civic body, Kumai said he had resigned on Saturday night “under duress”. He added that he would continue to be the chairman until he was voted out.

Kumai had defeated a no-trust notice against his board on January 24. According to municipality rules, six months must elapse before another motion of no-confidence can be brought against the chairman.

Although the majority of GNLF councillors have since shifted their allegiance to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Kumai has been clinging on to his post despite repeated calls for his resignation.

In the 23-member board, the Morcha now enjoys the support of 14 members while the rest are still with the GNLF.

Taken aback by the GNLF leader’s volte-face, the Morcha councillors went into a huddle today to find out ways to ensure a speedy exit of the chairman. They accused Kumai of enacting a farce.

“This man is beyond me. Does he believe the institution of municipality is child’s play,” asked Norden Lama, the Morcha leader and councillor of Ward 7, who had announced Kumai’s resignation yesterday.

Like yesterday, Kumai remained incommunicado. Repeated attempts to contact him on his mobile proved futile.

A source, however, said Kumai was well within his rights to withdraw his resignation.

“Once a chairman tenders resignation, he or she is expected to get it ratified by the board of councillors within seven days. Since Kumai withdrew his resignation even before the board of councillors could meet, he is on safe legal ground,” said the source.

With the civic body in a state of limbo, residents are facing a problem with the dumping of garbage. The earlier dumping ground at Lower Bhalukhop has been closed down by local residents, who want it shifted to a new location. However, the municipality has already missed a six-month deadline for the shift.

Currently, garbage is piling up on the streets of the town.