Sainthia Municipality Dissolved After 14 TMC Councillors Resign

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The Sainthia Municipality in West Bengal’s Birbhum district was dissolved on Monday after 14 councillors of the Trinamool Congress, including the chairman and vice-chairman, stepped down from their positions.

The councillors submitted their resignation letters to Suri Subdivision Administrator Supratik Singh.

Several members claimed that public support for the Trinamool Congress had declined, prompting their decision.

The development marks the first dissolution of a municipal board among Birbhum district’s six municipalities.

Sainthia Municipality consists of 16 councillors. In the municipal elections held on February 27, 2022, the Trinamool Congress secured all 16 seats.

The party won 13 seats uncontested and later claimed victory in the remaining three wards, leaving no opposition representation in the civic body.

Municipal Chairman Biplab Dutta and Vice-Chairman Kazi Kamal Hussain were among those who resigned.

Councillor Manas Singh of Ward No 3 and Councillor Maya Saha of Ward No. 9 did not submit resignations.

With the majority of councillors stepping down, the municipal board automatically ceased to function.

Explaining his decision, Biplab Dutta said he had won under the Trinamool Congress banner but believed voters had rejected the party in recent political developments. He also stated that he could no longer identify the party’s true direction and described his resignation as a personal decision.

Vice-Chairman Kazi Kamal Hussain cited family and health concerns. He said his wife had remained bedridden for 15 years and added that his own health issues influenced his decision.

Several other councillors also attributed their resignations to medical reasons.

Despite the dissolution, the remaining five municipalities in Birbhum, Bolpur, Suri, Rampurhat, Dubrajpur and Nalhati, continue under Trinamool Congress control.

Reacting to the development, BJP MLA Krishna Kant Saha said people were impressed with the welfare initiatives of the new state government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. He claimed this had encouraged leaders to leave the Trinamool Congress.

The dissolution has sparked fresh political discussion ahead of future electoral contests in West Bengal.

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Pragati Upadhyay

I report stories and occasionally rescue facts from chaos. By profession, I’m a journalist; by conviction, a social worker who believes words should move people, not just headlines. I question power, celebrate ordinary heroes, and sometimes irritate the comfortable. If truth had a shift, I’d probably be working overtime.