Alipurduar, Aug. 27: Barely a month after the Congress formed the local municipal board, party councillors today stayed away from the election of the vice-chairman, showing a fissure in its ranks.

Of the 10 Congress councillors, only three were present including chairman Dipak Dey.

Councillor of Ward No 14, Tandra Dey, was however elected vice- chairman. “I had invited all the councillors but I don’t know why they did not come,” Dipak Dey said.

Jiten Mandol, one of the councillors who did not attend the election, said: “The vice-chairman was not selected in a democratic manner since opinions of the councillors were not taken.” He added that some of the Congress leaders, who had vested interests, had made Tandra Dey the vice-chairman.

President of Congress Jalpaiguri district committee Biswaranjan Sarkar said: “I do not know what happened, though the vice-chairman was selected informally yesterday. Only the formalities and official election were left for today.”