Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Mayor Krishna Chakraborty resigned from her post on Thursday, formally submitting her resignation to Municipal Commissioner Ravi Agarwal at the civic body's headquarters in Salt Lake. The development marks the end of a tenure that began in 2019 and spanned a period of administrative transition, civic challenges and political shifts within the state's ruling establishment.
Krishna Chakraborty's association with the top civic post dates back to August 2019, when she was chosen to succeed former mayor Sabyasachi Dutta after his resignation. At the time, she was serving as the chairperson of the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation and was elevated to the mayoral position following a meeting of councillors. Her swearing-in made her the first woman mayor of the corporation.
Upon assuming office, Chakraborty had outlined an ambitious civic agenda for the municipality, promising improvements in roads, street lighting, waste management and water supply, particularly in the rapidly expanding Rajarhat region. Speaking after taking charge, she had said that her administration would focus on providing comprehensive civic services across the corporation's jurisdiction and work towards addressing long-standing infrastructure concerns.
Her role expanded further after the elected civic board ceased functioning in 2020. During the intervening period, Chakraborty oversaw municipal administration as an administrator, guiding the civic body through the COVID-19 pandemic and continuing municipal operations during a period when elected boards across the state remained dissolved. She later returned as mayor following the municipal elections and formation of a new board.
Throughout her tenure, civic infrastructure and public services remained central issues. In February 2022, after being elected mayor again under the newly constituted board, Chakraborty acknowledged challenges relating to roads, drainage and drinking water supply. She stated that solutions would require coordination with the party leadership and civic authorities, while stressing the need to improve services in both Salt Lake and Rajarhat. At the time, she remarked that the leadership had reposed faith in her and that the responsibility on her shoulders had increased.
In June 2024, Chakraborty publicly accepted responsibility for shortcomings in civic services after criticism over issues such as waste management and street lighting. Responding to concerns raised about municipal functioning, she said she would perform her duties and seek cooperation from councillors, adding that if she continued to fail in delivering results for an extended period, she would consider stepping down.
Her tenure also witnessed a number of administrative interventions. Among the notable decisions taken under her leadership was a move to act against rooftop restaurants operating in Bidhannagar, following discussions with state urban development athorities and subsequent deliberations within the civic board.
