kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DEDSK ; Kolkata, November 2: The political landscape in Kolkata is witnessing significant changes ahead of the upcoming Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) elections, with growing indications of uncertainty within the Trinamool Congress. Several former councillors who once competed for party tickets and regularly approached senior leaders in the hope of securing nominations are now reportedly reconsidering their political future. While some are reluctant to contest elections because of concerns over personal security and financial uncertainty, others are allegedly maintaining discreet contacts with different political circles in the hope of securing BJP tickets.

Preliminary information, out of the 137 Trinamool Congress councillors who won the 2021 Kolkata civic elections, at least 37 have so far shown little interest in contesting the upcoming polls under Mamata Banerjee's leadership. The situation has raised questions about the party's organisational strength and its ability to retain several former elected representatives ahead of a crucial municipal election. There are also indications that the number of former councillors unwilling to contest on a Trinamool ticket could increase as the election approaches.

One of the major reasons behind this reluctance is believed to be financial uncertainty. According to a section of the party leadership, former councillors may not receive the same financial and organisational assistance that was available during previous elections. Candidates may now have to depend largely on their personal resources and organisational capabilities to manage election campaigns. This has reportedly discouraged several former councillors from entering the electoral contest.

Some outgoing councillors have also expressed concerns that the financial support they previously received from party supporters and local followers may no longer be available to the same extent. The changing political environment has therefore become a major factor influencing their decisions. For many former representatives, contesting an election without adequate financial backing and organisational support could prove challenging.

Commenting on the situation, Baishwanar Chatterjee, the state general secretary of the Mamata Trinamool faction, alleged that several former councillors were looking towards the BJP because of their desire to remain associated with the party in power. He also claimed that some former representatives were avoiding the municipal election because of fears of alleged BJP attacks and police harassment. His remarks have added another dimension to the growing political uncertainty surrounding the civic polls.

The BJP appears to be preparing aggressively for the Kolkata municipal elections. Reports suggest that close associates of several outgoing councillors have already started participating in various government programmes, including public welfare camps, under the BJP's political banner in different wards. This has fuelled speculation about possible political realignments at the local level.

The BJP's Kolkata office has reportedly received more than 5,000 biodata submissions through a drop box for candidates interested in contesting from the city's 209 municipal wards. The applications are currently undergoing scrutiny. As the election draws closer, the residences and offices of senior BJP leaders, including Shamik Bhattacharya, Sukanta Majumdar, Tapas Roy, Sajal Ghosh and Ritesh Tiwari, are reportedly witnessing increasing numbers of aspiring candidates seeking party nominations.

Interestingly, the list of applicants reportedly includes professionals from different sections of society, including doctors and lawyers. The BJP leadership is therefore facing the task of screening a large number of applications and selecting suitable candidates for the 209 wards. Party leaders have expressed confidence about their electoral prospects, with the BJP claiming that it could win at least 180 wards in Kolkata. The party's growing confidence has also triggered discussions within its ranks about the possible mayoral candidate and the individuals who could become members of the Mayor-in-Council if the BJP secures control of the civic body.

The political uncertainty within the Trinamool Congress is also reflected in the decisions of several prominent former civic representatives. Two former mayors who played significant roles in running the Kolkata Municipal Corporation over the past decade and earlier periods have not yet entered the electoral race. Former mayor Sovan Chatterjee is currently inactive in mainstream politics. Meanwhile, Firhad Hakim has publicly announced that neither he nor his daughter will contest the upcoming municipal elections.

Former deputy mayor Atin Ghosh is also yet to make a decision about his electoral future. His existing Ward No. 22 has been reserved for women, creating uncertainty over whether he or his daughter Priyadarshini will enter the contest. The reservation arrangement has therefore affected the political calculations of several established councillors.

Two other influential former Mayor-in-Council members, Swapan Samaddar from North Kolkata and Sandipranjan Bakshi from South Kolkata, have also indicated that they will not contest the upcoming civic polls. Their reasons, however, are different. Bakshi's ward has been reserved for women, and he has reportedly decided against contesting from another ward. Swapan Samaddar, on the other hand, has cited pending legal cases as the primary reason behind his decision.

Explaining his position, Swapan Samaddar said that he had not yet secured complete bail in several cases that he described as false. He also pointed out that cases were pending against 52 party workers from the old and newly reorganised wards. He made it clear that he would not consider contesting the election until these legal matters were resolved.

Several other former councillors from both North and South Kolkata have also indicated that they are no longer interested in active politics. Former councillors such as Sanchita Mitra and Ghanshree Bag from Behala and Manisha Basu from Rashbehari are among those who have reportedly expressed their unwillingness to return to electoral politics.

some former Trinamool representatives remain determined to contest the elections under Mamata Banerjee's leadership. Former councillors Ratna Shur and Rupak Gangopadhyay are among those expected to remain politically active. Anjan Das, a former chairman of the Behala borough and a five-time chief election agent of former minister Partha Chatterjee, has also expressed his determination to contest despite concerns about possible attacks.

Das reportedly said that even if there was a possibility of being attacked during the election, he would still be willing to contest as a candidate of Mamata Banerjee. His statement reflects the determination of a section of the party's former representatives to remain with the Trinamool Congress despite the changing political circumstances.

Baishwanar Chatterjee and his wife Chaitali Chatterjee, who served as members of the outgoing Mayor-in-Council and borough chairpersons, have also expressed reluctance to contest. Baishwanar stated that neither of them currently wanted to become candidates. However, he added that if Mamata Banerjee personally instructed him to contest from a particular ward, he would have to follow her direction.

The emerging political situation has created opportunities for other political formations. Sourav Basu, the state youth president of the Democratic Trinamool Congress and a former councillor from Ward No. 86, is preparing to contest from the Hazra-Rashbehari area after his previous ward was reserved for women.

Sandipan Saha, a former Mayor-in-Council member and currently the deputy leader of the legislative party associated with the Ritabrata faction, has made it clear that the Democratic Trinamool Congress intends to field candidates in all 209 wards of Kolkata. This announcement suggests that the upcoming civic election could witness a more complicated contest, with multiple political groups competing for influence in areas traditionally associated with the Trinamool Congress.

Sources close to the Ritabrata faction have indicated that several former councillors from minority-dominated areas who may not receive nominations from Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress could instead contest under the Democratic Trinamool Congress banner using the envelope symbol. If this possibility materialises, it could significantly alter the electoral equations in several parts of Kolkata.

The Mamata-led Trinamool Congress camp remains confident about its position in several key areas. Leaders associated with the Kalighat faction believe that the party will face a strong contest against the BJP in large parts of the assembly constituencies covering Khidirpur, Garden Reach, Topsia, Tiljala, Entally, Ballygunge and Kasba.

The Trinamool camp, the electoral atmosphere in some of these localities could resemble the highly charged political conditions witnessed during the 1990 Kolkata municipal elections. The party believes that its organisational network and local support could remain important factors in these areas despite the emerging challenges.

Another interesting feature of the current political situation is the silence of several former Trinamool councillors from Central and North Kolkata. Many are reportedly unwilling to comment over the telephone about their plans for the upcoming civic polls. Instead, they are citing concerns regarding personal security and family responsibilities to avoid discussing their political future.

The developments have raised important questions about the Trinamool Congress's candidate selection process, internal unity and organisational strength ahead of the KMC elections. While the BJP is reportedly receiving thousands of applications from aspiring candidates, sections of the former Trinamool leadership appear uncertain about contesting under the party banner.

Whether these developments will lead to a major political shift involving more than a hundred former councillors remains to be seen. For now, the upcoming Kolkata civic elections are shaping up to be a significant political test for Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, with the BJP attempting to expand its influence and rival Trinamool factions preparing to enter the electoral battle.