TMC high command summons Krishnagar councillors to Kolkata
The Statesman | 31 August 2025
In a significant political move ahead of the 2026 Assembly election, the Trinamul Congress (TMC) high command has summoned its councillors from the troubled Krishnagar municipality to the party headquarters in Kolkata on 2 September.
The development comes at a time when the century-old civic body has been crippled by factional feuds, leaving residents grappling with stalled services and incomplete projects.
According to party insiders, phone calls from the TMC headquarters reached the councillors on Thursday afternoon, asking them to be present in Kolkata for the meeting. Senior leaders and ministers are expected to be present as the leadership seeks to resolve the protracted impasse that has virtually paralysed civic administration in the Nadia district town.
The crisis deepened after the state’s urban development and municipal affairs department recently issued show-cause notices to 24 councillors, questioning the breakdown of municipal services. The councillors responded within the mandated seven days, but the deadlock remained unresolved.
Factionalism within the ruling party’s ranks has plagued Krishnagar municipality for months. In June, 15 councillors, including 13 from the TMC, one from the Congress and an Independent, signed a no-confidence motion that resulted in the ouster of chairperson Rita Das. Since then, the board has been in disarray, with civic services virtually at a standstill. Garbage clearance, water supply, and several development projects have been severely affected, drawing the ire of residents.
Of the 25 seats in the municipality, one remains vacant following the death of a councillor. The TMC still holds a majority with 20 councillors, alongside two Congress, one BJP and one Independent member. Yet, persistent group rivalries have ensured that the board remains unstable.
Observers note that while internal disputes in municipalities are often addressed through the party’s central guidance during its annual 21 July convention, the stalemate in Krishnagar has defied easy resolution, prompting administrative intervention. Even after official meetings with state officials, no breakthrough was achieved, underlining the gravity of the crisis.
Political circles in Nadia are abuzz with speculation about the 2 September meeting, widely seen as a last-ditch effort by the TMC leadership to impose discipline and restore normalcy before the state heads into a crucial election season.
Speaking to reporters, Rukbanur Rahman, chairman of TMC’s Krishnagar North organisational district, confirmed the summons. “On 2 September, the party called the councillors of Krishnagar municipality to Kolkata. The meeting has been convened primarily to find a solution to the present crisis,” he said.
With the ruling party keen to retain its grip over urban voters in a politically sensitive municipality, the outcome of Tuesday’s meeting will be closely watched, both within the TMC and beyond.