West Bengal

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Siliguri, June 23: Bringing an end to prolonged political uncertainty, administrative rule has officially been imposed in the Siliguri Municipal Corporation. Veteran IAS officer R. Bimala has assumed charge as the administrator of the civic body. She arrived at the municipal corporation headquarters at around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, where she was welcomed with flowers by Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Kumar Roy, senior officials, and employees. BJP councillor Amit Jain and several other public representatives also extended their greetings to the newly appointed administrator.

Soon after taking charge, R. Bimala held a high-level meeting with municipal officials to review the immediate challenges facing the city. With the monsoon season underway, she directed officials to place special emphasis on sanitation measures and resolving problems related to waterlogging and drainage. She also identified uninterrupted drinking water supply and healthcare services as key priorities for the administration. The new administrator made it clear that the city’s development work would be carried forward through cooperation and coordination with all stakeholders.

R. Bimala is widely regarded as an experienced and highly competent administrator. In the past, she served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA). She has also successfully handled responsibilities as District Magistrate of Malda, Kalimpong, and Alipurduar. Owing to her extensive administrative experience and deep understanding of Siliguri and its geographical challenges, many observers believe her appointment will help ensure efficient functioning of the municipal corporation in the coming months.

The appointment comes against the backdrop of significant political developments within the civic body. Last Friday, Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb unexpectedly resigned from his position, creating considerable turmoil within the ruling Trinamool Congress. Following his resignation, efforts were initiated within the party to form a new municipal board by appointing Ranjan Sarkar as mayor and Sanjay Pathak as deputy mayor.

The political equation became complicated when four Trinamool Congress councillors resigned in protest against the proposed arrangement. Despite the growing crisis, the party continued its efforts to retain control of the municipal board. On Monday, within the stipulated deadline, 24 councillors reportedly submitted letters expressing their willingness to support the formation of a new board.

Those political efforts, however, were effectively halted when the state’s Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Department issued its final order appointing an administrator for the corporation. With that decision, the tenure of the elected municipal board officially came to an end, and a new phase of bureaucratic administration began in the Siliguri Municipal Corporation.

The development marks a significant turning point in the governance of Siliguri, as the city now moves under direct administrative supervision while authorities focus on civic services, infrastructure management, and addressing key urban challenges during the monsoon season.