Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) turned into a “battleground” last week when a regular meeting was split in a regular meeting between Patna Mayor Sita Sahu’s son Sheshir Kumar and opposition councilors. On a complaint lodged by counselor Jit Kumar, the police have accused Sheeshir of attacking and “intervening with government business”. The Hunt is for the head, which is said to be absconding.
The meeting of July 11 was called by Sahu to track the “controversial” proposals. Municipal Commissioner Animesh Kumar Parshar objected to this, who claimed that these projects were placed as “to benefit private interests”. Sahu insisted that the proposals be passed, Parashar staged a walkout.
An oral duality was followed between the Mayor and the municipal authorities, in which the Sheshir went to the meeting in the form of Beddalam, allegedly hoisted by bouncers. Opposition councilors objected to the Sheshir, who are not part of the PMC, participate in the meeting. Unaffected, Sheshir entered an oral spat with former deputy mayor Vinay Kumar, eventually leading to a physical change with councilors in opposition to his mother.
Parashar later appealed to Patna District Magistrate Thiaganjan SM that Sheeshir was banned from PMC meetings. Police said Sheshir, who claimed a relationship with BJP, was a criminal record, for at least four cases against him, for serious crimes like murder and intimidation.
Sahu’s critics and political rivals alleged that the incident reflected how she was “remote-controlled” by her son, and this was not the first time that Sheshir participated in PMC meetings, with armed security, nor his first example “intervened” with the first municipal work. Sources said that some councilors who opposed Sahu had also written to DM and Parashar that there was a demand to ban Vaisir participating in PMC meetings.
Shishir is believed to have been considered as an aspiring for an assembly seat from Patna in the upcoming elections, and the July 11 incident was allegedly part of his efforts to create a public profile.
There are 75 councilors in PMC, who are officially not affiliated to any political party as the municipal elections are not fought on party lines.
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However, in a video statement released on Tuesday, Sheshir identified herself as a “member of the state BJP working committee” in addition to “Mayor’s representative”. “The mayor has launched a campaign against corruption in PMC. No officer involved in corruption will be allowed to stay in the state. Once these officers are investigated, I will report (for the police). I will not guilty just because a case has been filed. I am not afraid and will not bow down to anyone.”
Asked about the claims of Sheeshir, the BJP said that it was “sharing his side of the story and should not be concluded before listening to all sides”. Party spokesman Manoj Sharma said, “A fair test is possible only when all the parties have presented their views. Let us listen to all the parties.”
Congress spokesperson Gyan Ranjan Gupta said that “everyone from Bihar knows that Sheeshir has relations with BJP”. “While he is posting the video, it is claiming that he is in Patna, the police is not arresting him yet. What is the police stopping? … The law and order has fallen. The BJP wants to take advantage of the state taxpayers only for political gains.”
Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Karthikeya Sharma denied any laxity on his behalf. On July 13, he said, given a raid at Sahu’s Maharajganj residence to arrest Sheshir, in view of “the seriousness of the complaint”.
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The raid triggered protests by Sahu’s supporters, who burnt effigies of Parashar and perceived political vengeance. The SSP said: “The Mayor did not fully cooperate. Further investigation is on and it will be questioned.”
Magistrate (T) Opposition Councilor Patna (T) Sheshir Kumar Video Statement
