The recent remarks of chief minister Mamata Banerjee over the performance of the Raiganj municipality has prompted the political parties in Opposition to pick up the issue and use it as an agenda ahead of the Assembly bypoll.

In Raiganj, the bypoll would be held on July 10, along with three other Assembly seats of Bengal.

On Monday, Mamata, while speaking at an administrative meeting with officials and heads of civic bodies of the state, had mentioned that the local civic body in Raiganj is one of the worst performers in the parameter of housing and that it has failed to check illegal construction. Along with Raiganj, she had also mentioned the name of Siliguri Municipal Corporation.

“It is one of the worst-performing municipalities. We have information that some people have made properties (by indulging in corruption). I will demolish all such properties,” Mamata had said.

The municipality is run by a board of administrators comprising a former civic chairman and others as the tenure of the Trinamool-run board has ended.

Manash Kumar Ghosh (in a tri-colour scarf), the BJP candidate, campaigns in Raiganj on Wednesday. Picture by Kousik Sen

In the Raiganj Assembly seat, Krishna Kalyani of BJP had won in 2021. However, soon after, he defected to TMC. Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls this year, Kalyani, who was fielded by TMC as the candidate from Raiganj Parliament seat, resigned from his post. That is why the seat has turned vacant.

Manash Kumar Ghosh, the BJP candidate contesting at the by-election, said: “People across Raiganj are well aware that a section of TMC leaders who had been running the civic body, indulged in corruption. The chief minister has formally mentioned it. During our campaign, we are highlighting her remarks.”

Mohit Sengupta, a veteran Congress leader who is also in the poll fray, said they are apprising voters that none other than the chief minister has admitted that some of her party leaders are into corruption.

“In 2017, TMC had resorted to violence to gain control over the civic body and then, the leaders got into corruption. Trinamool leaders are well aware that people are aggrieved with them and thus, even though the board’s tenure has ended two years back, the state didn’t take the initiative to conduct the municipal elections here,” Sengupta, who is being backed by the Left, said.

Sandip Biswas, chairman of the BoA of the civic body, however, claimed that the chief minister had mentioned some pending works of Bangla Awas Yojana, a housing scheme.

“We are providing all necessary civic services. For implementation of the scheme, we will launch a special drive after the by-poll,” he said.

TMC leaders, when asked about the issue, admitted that the opposition is exerting pressure on them. At the Lok Sabha elections, TMC was lagging behind the BJP by around 47,000 votes in the Raiganj Assembly segment which comprises the civic area and five neighbouring panchayats.

“In all 27 wards of the town, TMC was behind BJP. BJP’s lead in the civic area was around 22,000 votes. Further, in all the five panchayats, BJP was ahead. In such a situation, the parties in opposition have found a new agenda to mount pressure on us,” said a TMC functionary in the town.

Kalyani, whom TMC has again fielded in the by-poll, however, tried to drive home the point that Mamata’s remarks indicate her “neutrality.”

“She is the head of the state and has every right to point out any lapse that has come to her notice. This indicates the transparency and neutrality of the state government. This is what we are telling to people,” said the TMC candidate.