Borough Chairmen Arup Chakraborty and Susanta Ghosh step down from all posts of KMC

Infighting within the All India Trinamool Congress appeared to intensify inside the Kolkata Municipal Corporation on Wednesday after senior councillors Arup Chakraborty and Sushanta Ghosh resigned from important municipal positions. Sushanta Ghosh stepped down as Chairman of Borough 12, while Arup Chakraborty resigned from the Municipal Accounts Committee. Their resignations came a day after Mamata Banerjee held a meeting with party councillors and instructed them to actively return to public outreach work.

Earlier, Debolina Biswas had also resigned from the post of Borough 9 chairperson. Sources indicated that additional resignations could follow within the municipal structure. The developments have triggered fresh discussion over internal differences within the party after the recent political changes in the state.

During Tuesday’s meeting with councillors, Mamata Banerjee reportedly urged party representatives to remain active among the public and continue civic service responsibilities. She reminded councillors that the municipal board remains elected and operational and questioned why many were not visible on the streets carrying out organisational and public work.

Reacting to the resignations, Mayor-in-Council member Tarak Singh stated that he did not consider the developments a formal split within the party, although he acknowledged visible divisions among members. He said the leadership should hold discussions with dissatisfied councillors regarding whether they wished to remain within the organisation. BJP leader Sajal Ghosh also reacted to the developments, alleging that the resignations were aimed at attracting attention and stating that those intending to leave should resign as councillors and quit the party completely.