KOLKATA: The West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution supporting an Ad-hoc committee report that favoured the creation of a legislative council, amid opposition by the BJP.
The resolution - 'Consideration of report of the ad hoc committee to examine the recommendation for creation of a Legislative council' -- was moved by state parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee under Rule 169 of the Procedures of Conduct of Business of the House.
Voting was duly held, with 196 of the 265 members present in the House supporting the creation of the council and 69 opposing it. The BJP legislative party, while opposing the resolution, said the TMC wants to pursue "backdoor politics" to help party leaders get elected as lawmakers despite having lost the assembly polls.
The saffron party also argued that the move would put pressure on state exchequer. Echoing the BJP, lone ISF MLA Naushad Siddiqui also opposed the resolution.