Siliguri, West Bengal: A delegation of CPI(M) leaders from Darjeeling district on Wednesday met the commissioner of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) and lodged a formal complaint alleging that BJP functionaries are exercising "unethical" influence over civic administration by acting as coordinators in all 47 municipal wards, the Telegraph reported.
Allegation of political dominance after administrator appointment
The delegation, led by senior district party officials, told the commissioner that the alleged interference began after the elected civic board was dissolved and an administrator was appointed to run the SMC. The CPM said the board was dissolved after Gautam Deb stepped down as mayor on June 18 and that the administrator took charge on June 22, according to the report.
Saman Pathak, Darjeeling district CPI(M) secretary, was quoted as saying that on August 3 the BJP had assigned leaders as ward coordinators across all 47 wards and that these coordinators were entering borough offices and giving instructions to civic officials and staff. The CPM demanded that the commissioner instruct SMC officials and employees to prevent what it called unconstitutional interference while civic services are being provided.
“We condemn the political dominance by the BJP and have appealed to the commissioner to strictly instruct all officials and employees of the civic body to prevent such unconstitutional interference while providing civic services,” Pathak said, according to the report.
Impact on civic services, CPM warns
The CPM also alleged that the absence of an elected board has already affected routine civic services. Party leaders pointed to deteriorating conditions across the city, citing increased potholes, irregular drinking water supply and a decline in conservancy services. Former CPM councillor Saradindu Chakraborty was quoted as saying that although boards of administrators have run the SMC in the past, political dominance of the present kind had not been observed then.
At the news conference in the district CPM office in Siliguri, the delegation warned that it would launch a movement if the alleged interference continued. The CPM has called on the commissioner to take immediate steps to curb what it described as partisan intrusion into the municipal administration.
- Core allegation: BJP-appointed ward coordinators are instructing SMC officials in borough offices.
- Administrative context: Civic board dissolved; administrator appointed on June 22 following mayor Gautam Deb's resignation.
- Reported service issues: Potholes, irregular water supply, and worsening conservancy services.
Local governance and next steps
The complaint formalises a political dispute that has implications for how municipal services are delivered in Siliguri, a city that serves as the gateway to north Bengal and the northeastern states. The CPM has sought an authoritative directive from the commissioner to ensure that municipal employees and officials are able to perform their duties without partisan pressure.
No response from the SMC commissioner or any BJP representative was included in the report. The matter raises questions about administrative neutrality while an appointed administrator runs the corporation — a sensitive issue in a city where municipal functioning has direct consequences for everyday life, from water supply schedules to road repairs.
| Issue | CPM claim |
|---|---|
| Potholes | Increased, due to inadequate maintenance |
| Drinking water | Irregular supply in several areas |
| Conservancy | Services have deteriorated |
The CPM said it would monitor the situation closely and may mobilise public protests if the commissioner does not take action to bar political actors from intervening in civic operations. For residents of Siliguri — from Bagdogra to Matigara and the boroughs within the municipal limits — the dispute underscores the broader challenge of keeping day-to-day services insulated from partisan contestation while the corporation is under administrative care.
