TMC appoints Dilip Saha as Cooch Behar civic body chief

With an eye on the forthcoming Assembly elections, Trinamul Congress (TMC) councillor Dilip Saha has been nominated as the Chairman of the Cooch Behar Municipality. Saha formally took oath on Wednesday.

The change in leadership follows the resignation of Rabindranath Ghosh, who stepped down from the post on instructions from TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, ahead of his visit to Cooch Behar on 13 January. After Ghosh’s resignation, councillor Amina Ahmed had been functioning as the interim chairperson.

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TMC district president and councillor Abhijit De Bhowmik said Rabindranath Ghosh vacated the municipal post to shoulder a larger political responsibility in the run-up to the Assembly polls. “The party felt that Dilip Saha would be better positioned to address local aspirations at this crucial juncture. We are confident he will work in the interest of the people of Cooch Behar,” De Bhowmik said.

He added that a board meeting would be convened shortly to adopt key resolutions, including issues related to municipal taxes affecting local traders.

After taking oath, Chairman Dilip Saha said his immediate priority would be to address long-pending civic and trade-related concerns. “The problems faced by traders, particularly those linked to taxation, will be taken up on priority,” he told reporters.

Sources said the new Chairman, along with TMC councillors, is likely to hold meetings with traders and other stakeholders in Cooch Behar town in the coming days, as the party looks to consolidate support ahead of the Assembly elections.