April 6: Trinamul leader Rabindranath Ghosh, who said a party candidate deserved votes as he was campaigning as "a representative of the government", today defended himself saying it was "not wrong to say this to voters".

Yesterday, the reasoning has triggered an uproar, especially since the declaration appeared to be rooted in a statement the chief minister had made last week on the desirability of same-party rule down the line for better execution of development projects.

The assertion has also shone a light on an open secret: how governments of the day indulge in development discrimination when it comes to local administrations headed by rivals and indirectly settle scores with those who voted against the party or alliance ruling the state.

It is a subject that has a wider sweep and reach than the "local" factors around which civic elections usually play out.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had said in Bagdogra on March 30: "We feel it is always better to have the same party in the local civic bodies (and in the state government). This always helps in carrying out development work at local levels. On the other hand, if the state government does half of the projects and the local (civic body) is separate (run by another political party), development comes to a halt."

Ghosh, who was campaigning for Trinamul candidate Biswanath Dey - locally known as Palan - in the Cooch Behar municipality, told several voters: "Many councillors could not carry out development in their wards and have only mouthed excuses. They come up with disappointing remarks like 'we are not in power at the civic board and a different party is in the state government' and they cannot work. People need an active councillor who can meet their needs. This is what Palan (candidate Dey's nickname) can do. He is campaigning here as a representative of the government ( sarkarer pratinidhi) that is in power in the state. We would thus urge you to vote on Trinamul's symbol."

Asked about his remarks, Ghosh today said: "All I wanted to say was that the candidate represents Trinamul which is ruling the state. Therefore, by implication, a Trinamul candidate represents the state government. It is not wrong to tell this to the voters. A councillor from the ruling party is always better and can expedite development. An Opposition councillor cannot carry out development work and satisfy his voters."

On Friday, Ghosh had pledged " prashashonik sahojogita (administrative help)" to Trinamul candidates, which had led the Opposition to move the state poll panel against the leader. The state election commission has show-caused Ghosh.

Trinamul senior leader Partha Chatterjee reiterated his "warning" to Ghosh today.

"He has been asked to restrain from making such statements in public," Chatterjee said after his return from north Bengal this afternoon.

"His remarks are contradictory to the party's stand. There is no question of using the administration for the polls. Those contesting the polls are our party representatives and nothing else," Chatterjee said.

Trinamul insiders said Ghosh was probably trying to make his presence felt and took the cue from the chief minister's statement seeking votes for ruling party candidates.

The Cooch Behar district administration today served a fresh notice to Ghosh, following a complaint from the Left Front after his comments made yesterday.

"The party came in for criticism during the panchayat polls since no action was taken against the Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal, who made one after the other inflammatory statements. This time the party is not taking any chances," said a senior leader.