Archive · 8 Oct 2026
BJP Takes English Bazar Municipality After Malda Zilla Parishad
Amlan Bhaduri, a BJP leader, has become the new chairman of the English Bazar municipality.
The town council has 29 seats, but the BJP has only three councillors there.
Several councillors who had been elected for the Trinamool Congress said they would now act as Independents, and some backed Bhaduri.
Reports describe the vote differently: one gives a tally of 15 votes, while another says no one stood against him and he was elected unanimously.
A local official said 11 councillors had formally given up the Trinamool symbol and would be treated as Independents.
Bhaduri said he wants to improve local services and address construction and tax issues.
Some former Trinamool councillors said they supported him for development, while the party’s district president said it was watching the developments.
The change came after the BJP took control of the district’s rural council and before the chief minister’s planned visit.
Amlan Bhaduri, the BJP MLA and municipal councillor, was elected chairman of the 29-member English Bazar municipality on Wednesday.
Reports differ on the vote: one says Bhaduri received 15 votes, including support from 12 former Trinamool councillors treated as Independents; another describes his election as unanimous after no challenger was proposed.
Eleven Trinamool councillors formally said they were giving up the party symbol; the Sadar SDO said they would be treated as Independents under Section 21B.
Bhaduri said his priorities included addressing illegal construction and unnecessary taxes and improving civic services; former vice-chairperson Sumala Agarwal said the group backed him for development.
The municipal change followed the BJP’s capture of the Malda Zilla Parishad leadership and came before Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s scheduled Thursday visit.
- Who
- Amlan Bhaduri was elected chairman, with support from former Trinamool councillors who declared themselves Independents.
- What
- The BJP took control of the English Bazar municipality after Bhaduri became chairman.
- When
- Wednesday, before the chief minister’s scheduled Thursday visit to Malda.
- Where
- English Bazar municipality, Malda district, north Bengal.
- Why
- Bhaduri said the BJP took responsibility to address civic administration issues and improve services; former vice-chairperson Sumala Agarwal cited development and dissatisfaction with Trinamool’s functioning.
BJP and supporting former Trinamool councillors
Trinamool Congress
Purpose of the leadership change
BJP and supporting former Trinamool councillors
Bhaduri said BJP involvement was needed to address civic administration issues, illegal construction and unnecessary taxation, and to provide better, transparent services. Sumala Agarwal said she supported him for English Bazar’s development and cited confusion and factionalism in Trinamool.
Trinamool Congress
District president Abdul Rahim Boxi alleged that conspiracies were being used to try to wipe out Trinamool and said the party was monitoring developments and would take appropriate action.
Status of the former Trinamool councillors
BJP and supporting former Trinamool councillors
Sadar SDO S D Sarkar said 11 councillors had formally given up the Trinamool symbol and were being treated as Independents under Section 21B.
Trinamool Congress
Gayatri Ghosh said the councillors had won on Trinamool tickets and described their action as defection; former chairman Krishnendu Narayan Choudhury said they could function if legally accepted as Independents.
- Municipality
- English Bazar municipality
- Board size
- 29 members
- New chairman
- Amlan Bhaduri, BJP MLA and municipal councillor
- Support and vote
- One report says 15 councillors supported Bhaduri, including 12 Independents; another says he was elected unanimously after no alternative candidate was proposed.
- Councillors changing status
- Eleven councillors told the Sadar SDO in writing they were giving up the Trinamool symbol.
- Official explanation
- Sadar SDO S D Sarkar said the 11 councillors were treated as Independents under Section 21B.
- Related event
- The BJP had taken control of the Malda Zilla Parishad the previous day.
- Scheduled visit
- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari was scheduled to visit Malda on Thursday.
