Malda, Sept. 8 -- English Bazar Municipality Chairman Krishnendu Narayan Choudhury is likely to resign from his post on September 9, citing the civic body's worsening financial condition and difficulties in running the municipality.
Choudhury had hinted at his resignation last week, claiming that falling municipal revenue and alleged lack of government cooperation had made administration increasingly difficult. "The municipality's own fund is almost exhausted. We have paid the salaries of temporary employees up to August. I cannot say what the situation will be after that," he said. He is affiliated to the TMC party.
Nearly 1,500 temporary workers depend on the municipality for their salaries, with around Rs 2.25 crore reportedly required every month for their payment. Workers have expressed concern that any delay could create serious financial problems for their families and have threatened agitation.
The municipality's revenue comes from sources including land mutation, property tax, water tax, conservancy tax and trade licences. Municipal leaders have alleged that government-related issues have affected revenue collection, including the suspension of land mutation for nearly three months. However, the Opposition has blamed the civic leadership for the financial crisis. BJP MLA and municipal Opposition leader Amlan Bhaduri said, "The chairman and vice-chairman are responsible for running the municipality. If they cannot manage it, they should step down."
Choudhury, first elected chairman in 1995, has headed the municipality for several terms and returned to the post in 2022.
His resignation will come before the present board's tenure ends.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.