Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Malda Faces Uncertain October Polls for Rural, Urban Posts
Malda will hold two important local elections on October 6 and 7.
One election will choose leaders for the district’s rural council.
The other will choose a chairman for the Englishbazar municipality.
The previous rural leaders resigned after some Trinamool members sought a no-confidence vote.
Trinamool has the most seats, but its members are split into factions.
One faction says it has enough support to win with help from Congress members.
The municipality also has a large Trinamool majority.
However, money problems and questions about worker wages could make it difficult to find a new chairman.
The BJP says it will not contest the municipal chairman’s post.
Malda will elect new leaders for its zilla parishad and Englishbazar municipality on October 6 and 7.
Trinamool’s Lipika Burman Ghosh and Rafikul Hossain resigned from the zilla parishad’s top posts on August 14.
Trinamool has 34 of 43 zilla parishad members but is divided into factions; Congress has five and BJP four.
A Trinamool faction claims support from at least 24 members, including all five Congress representatives, to win both rural posts.
Trinamool holds 24 of 29 municipal seats, but financial concerns and worker-payment uncertainty may complicate the chairman election.
- Who
- Members of the Malda zilla parishad and Englishbazar municipality will elect new leaders, with Trinamool factions, Congress, BJP and an Independent councillor involved in the political calculations.
- What
- Elections will be held for the Malda zilla parishad’s sabhadhipati and sahakari sabhadhipati and for the Englishbazar municipality chairman.
- When
- The rural elections are scheduled for October 6, with the municipal election on October 7.
- Where
- Malda district, including the Malda zilla parishad and Englishbazar municipality in Bengal.
- Why
- The rural posts became vacant after two Trinamool leaders resigned, while the municipal chairman’s resignation and financial concerns created the need for a new election.
Trinamool faction claiming majority
Other parties and uncertain factions
Zilla parishad numbers
Trinamool faction claiming majority
Trinamool member Sagarika Sarkar said her faction has at least 24 elected members, including all five Congress representatives, and expects to win both posts.
Other parties and uncertain factions
The 34 Trinamool members are divided into two factions, while the BJP has four members and has not disclosed its strategy.
Municipal chairman contest
Trinamool faction claiming majority
Trinamool has 24 of the municipality’s 29 seats, giving it a strong numerical advantage in choosing a chairman.
Other parties and uncertain factions
Despite that majority, uncertainty remains over whether Trinamool can elect a chairman smoothly because of the municipality’s financial condition and wage-payment concerns.
BJP participation
Trinamool faction claiming majority
The ruling party’s numerical strength makes a Trinamool nominee the expected focus of the municipal election.
Other parties and uncertain factions
The BJP says it will not contest the municipal chairman’s post because it has only three councillors.
- Zilla parishad election
- Sabhadhipati election at noon on October 6; sahakari sabhadhipati election at 2pm.
- Zilla parishad seats
- 43 elected members: 34 Trinamool, five Congress and four BJP.
- Rural leadership resignations
- Lipika Burman Ghosh and Rafikul Hossain resigned on August 14.
- Municipal election
- Englishbazar municipality will elect a chairman on October 7.
- Municipal composition
- 29 seats: 24 Trinamool, three BJP, one Independent and one vacant seat.
- Current municipal head
- Vice-chairperson Sumala Agarwala is currently in charge.
- Financial concern
- Questions have been raised about the municipality’s finances, contractual workers and payment of temporary workers’ wages.