BMC Mayor Krishna Chakraborty quits, says board has become ‘defunct’

Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Mayor Krishna Chakraborty resigned on Thursday, saying she was unable to provide services to the people in the present circumstances.

Though Chakraborty in her resignation letter cited “personal reasons” for her decision, she later told mediapersons that the board has “become defunct” after the change of regime in West Bengal.

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“Councillors are not coming to the Poura Bhawan (BMC headquarters). I am sitting without work. The board meetings are not being held, MMiC meetings are not taking place. I’m unable to provide services to the people the way I am supposed to. I love to work. This state of affairs is not to my liking,” she said.

Chakraborty, a prominent Trinamul Congress leader and known for her proximity to party chief Mamata Banerjee, sidestepped a query about whether she had spoken to her leader before taking the decision. “I can only say I have spoken to everybody. However, I will not disclose specifically who I’ve spoken to”.

She rubbished a poser on whether she had taken the decision under duress. “Nobody has pressured me, nobody has intimidated me. And there is no reason for anybody to behave like this with me. Am I a thief? I have been working for the masses since I was very young.”

The veteran leader said she would be coming to Poura Bhavan as she would continue to work as Councillor (of Ward 29). “I hold no grudge against anybody. I’ll remain forever indebted to the people of Bidhannagar. They have showered a lot of love and affection on me.”

Asked about the functioning of the new BJP government, she said: “A new government will come up with its fresh policies. We have to keep our trust in it.”

The previous BMC polls were held in February 2022, when the Trinamul Congress retained the board by winning 39 of the 41 wards. Bidhannagar, a posh satellite town of Kolkata is situated on the eastern edge of the city.