"Not eggs but bricks will be thrown": Dilip Ghosh warns absconding panchayat pradhans

Following the recent political power shift in West Bengal, nearly two thousand Panchayat Pradhans from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have reportedly gone into hiding or remained inactive, severely disrupting rural governance. Amidst widespread allegations of financial corruption, many local leaders have stopped attending their offices out of fear, as angry citizens have targeted them with eggs in several villages. This mass absenteeism has brought crucial developmental projects to a grinding halt, leaving rural residents stranded without access to essential administrative services.

State Panchayat Minister Dilip Ghosh addressed the critical situation by issuing a fierce ultimatum to the missing public representatives, demanding that they either immediately resume their official duties or formally resign from their posts. Ghosh highlighted that the prolonged absence of these officials has blocked tender allocations, delayed financial clearances, and frozen key welfare schemes, including the Awas Yojana and Sadak Yojana. Furthermore, rural citizens are facing massive hurdles in obtaining basic administrative documents, such as income and residential certificates, due to the locked offices.

The minister urged the elected representatives to overcome their fear of public heckling and honor the mandates given to them by the voters. However, he followed the appeal with a stern warning, stating that the administration would deploy police forces to escort the absconding leaders back to work if they failed to comply voluntarily. Ghosh also cautioned that if the public representatives continue to take government salaries without delivering civic services, the state would not hesitate to mobilize local communities to surround their residences, warning that bricks would replace eggs if the defiance continues.