AGARTALA, Feb 6 (TIWN): Chief Executive Member Radha Charan Debbarma on Wednesday accused a section of political parties of the state of running propaganda against the Left ruled council. “A section of political parties are running a malicious campaign in the social media against the incumbent council”, he alleged. Justifying his allegations, he said that the political parties were trying to take political mileage out of the false campaigns as the ruling BJP and its ally IPFT had no issues to fight the elections.

Though he hailed the initiative taken by the central government to empower the ADC, he claimed that it was a long standing demand of the district councils since time long. “The central government has taken steps to give more power to the ADC. But, the issue of 125th amendment of the constitution is on talks since long. The Left government for the first time introduced 5th schedule in 1978 under the powers conferred to it as per the constitution. After that the central government elevated it to the 6th schedule. But, still there are many things which are needed to be considered” said the CEM.

He also drew the concern of the central government to make necessary amendments in Article 3(A), 3(K) and section 280 for better functioning of the ADCs. Reacting on state government’s initiative of increasing seats in ADC and handing over of 43 departments, he said that he had nothing to comment on the matter. On the budget proposals, he said, in the financial year 2018-19 a proposal of Rs 676 crore 43 lakh 255 has been sent to the state central government for 6 projects, a proposal of Rs 132 crore 90 lakh has been sent in the subsequent financial year but no positive steps have been taken. Moreover, Rs 101 Crore 91 lakh 54 thousand is still pending of the total budget sanctioned for the ADC in this financial year, Debbarma told media.