Wave of resignations hits TMC strongholds in West Bengal

KOLKATA/CONTAI: A wave of resignations has hit municipalities in West Bengal, leaving the civic boards on the verge of collapse and exposing growing discontent within Trinamool Congress in the regions once considered the party’s strongholds.

The churn has intensified across Barrackpore industrial belt, affecting municipalities such as Bhatpara, Kanchrapara, Halisahar and Garulia. On Monday, 16 councillors, including chairman Maloy Ghosh, resigned from the 23-member North Barrackpore municipality. With three councillors already dead, the exit of 16 members has triggered an administrative crisis.

The councillors ascribed their resignations to “moral responsibility” following TMC’s poor performance in the polls. Political observers, however, believe the developments reflect deeper issues, including public dissatisfaction with civic services, weakening grassroots connections and intensifying factionalism within TMC after the electoral setback.

In Diamond Harbour, a stronghold of Abhishek Banerjee, eight Trinamool councillors resigned from the 16 member municipality, with only months remaining in its term. The councillors alleged “financial irregularities and police highhandedness”, claiming that major projects were approved without the board’s consent and raising allegations of custodial torture linked to protests.