Following disappointing results in the recent Lok Sabha elections across municipal areas, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) initiated a sweeping reshuffle at the municipal level across the state.
Based on internal performance reviews citing poor performance and lack of public outreach, several Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen, Mayors, and Deputy Mayors have been directed to step down. The ruling party aims to correct these organizational weaknesses ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Key Changes in Municipalities:
- Katwa Municipality: Mayor Samir Kumar Saha and Deputy Mayor Lakhindar Mandal have been removed. Kamalakanta Chakraborty takes over as the new Mayor, and Yusufa Khatun will be the new Deputy Mayor.
- Kalna Municipality:Reena Bandyopadhyay has replaced Anand Dutta as the new Mayor.
- Dainhat Municipality:Samar Saha has replaced Pradip Roy as Mayor.
- Guskara Municipality: Sadhana Konar is the new Deputy Mayor, replacing Beli Begum, while Mayor Kushal Mukhopadhyay remains in his post.
Changes have also been made in several urban bodies in North Bengal, including Maynaguri, Jalpaiguri Town, Old Malda, Raiganj, Mal, Kaliaganj, and Dalkhola. Southern municipalities and corporations also saw changes following the resignation of the Administrator of Howrah Municipal Corporation last month.
Performance as the Yardstick: In the last Lok Sabha polls, TMC led in only 51 municipalities, compared to 69 for the BJP and 2 for the Congress. The selection process has reportedly focused on three key criteria: public relations, capacity to deliver civic services, and role within the party structure. Sources indicate that the leadership wants to execute these changes quietly, asking officials to resign voluntarily; otherwise, they will be removed. These changes are being finalized before the Assembly polls.