Locket Chatterjee's brother elected as Kamarhati Municipality chairman; BJP State President seeks report

On the 125th birth anniversary celebration of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, BJP State President Samik Bhattacharya has sought a detailed report on the recent election of Sushant Chattopadhyay as Chairman of Kamarhati Municipality. Chattopadhyay, an Independent councillor and brother of BJP leader Locket Chatterjee, was elected following a wave of resignations. The move has sparked speculation about BJP control over the civic body, prompting Bhattacharya to caution against unauthorised claims of party dominance.

Speaking at the event, Bhattacharya focussed on the need for organisational discipline and proper procedures in municipal affairs. He directed State General Secretary (Organisation) Amitabh Chakraborty to submit the report by 4PM on Monday, adding that no individual leader’s influence would supersede party protocol. To provide some context, Kamarhati Municipality has 35 seats, with a history of Trinamool Congress dominance that shifted due to the resignation of Chairman Gopal Saha on June 12. Several councillors followed in his footsteps as well. And on Friday, 27 councillors unanimously elected Sushant Chattopadhyay

The developments surrounding the Kamarhati Municipality chairman election have brought renewed attention to evolving political equations in West Bengal's urban local bodies. Still, it also leaves cracks in the internal cohesion of the BJP government in the state, at a time when the BJP and TMC parties are already hurling accusations at each other over a myriad of matters.