Siliguri, Nov. 3: The Congress today sought to downplay the wresting of Siliguri mayor and chairperson’s posts with the Left Front support in the civic body, describing it as a “minor issue in a democratic process”.

“Formation of the board (mayor) in the Siliguri Municipal Corporation with the front support is a minor issue in a democratic process. The issue has been debated thoroughly in different spheres. The residents of Siliguri have by now understood the stand of the Congress. We think it is a closed chapter,” Manas Bhuniya, the Congress Legislative Party leader in the Assembly, told journalists here.

The Congress leader, who arrived here from Malda to campaign for the byelection, was asked why his party had taken the step, which annoyed its ally the Trinamul Congress.

“Development is the first commitment of the Congress and our workers here will work for the people. The Congress is ready to admit its mistake,” Bhuniya said.

The Congress leader said people would cast their votes in favour of “change” in the November 7 byelection to 10 Assembly seats in the state, like they did in the last parliamentary polls.

On the CPM allegations of Maoist-Trinamul nexus, Bhuniya said the issue was being taken care at the administrative level. “The state government is in regular touch with the Prime Minister on the Maoist issue. It is looked after at the administrative level and the Centre is also monitoring it. I should not comment on the Trinamul Congress leader’s stand on this issue from a political platform,” Bhuniya said.

Yesterday in Malda, the Congress leader had taken a dig at former chief minister Jyoti Basu’s reported plea to party supporters to vote for the Left Front in the byelection describing it as a ploy to create a rift with Trinamul.