𝗪𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗕𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗔𝗟 𝗚𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗩𝗘𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗣𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗗𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗦, 𝗦𝗗𝗢𝘀 𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗘 𝗖𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗖 𝗕𝗢𝗗𝗜𝗘𝗦

KalimNews, May 18, 2026, Kalimpong : In a major administrative decision, the newly elected BJP-led Government of West Bengal has dissolved the politically appointed Boards of Administrators that had been managing several municipalities without elections since 2022. The government has now appointed respective Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) as Administrators to oversee the functioning of these civic bodies until fresh municipal elections are conducted.

The decision affects Kurseong Municipality, Mirik Notified Area Authority, Kalimpong Municipality, and Buniadpur Municipality.

According to an official government notification issued under Section 14(4) of the West Bengal Municipal Act, 1993, all previous notifications regarding the appointment of Boards of Administrators for the concerned municipalities have been superseded with immediate effect.

The order states that the Governor has authorized the appointment of the following Sub-Divisional Officers as Administrators until newly elected Boards of Councillors assume office after elections or until further orders are issued:

• Kurseong Municipality, Darjeeling District — Sub-Divisional Officer, Kurseong

• Mirik Notified Area Authority, Darjeeling District — Sub-Divisional Officer, Mirik

• Kalimpong Municipality, Kalimpong District — Sub-Divisional Officer, Kalimpong

• Buniadpur Municipality, Dakshin Dinajpur District — Sub-Divisional Officer, Gangarampur

The notification further clarifies that the Administrators will exercise all powers and responsibilities vested in municipal authorities under the West Bengal Municipal Act and other applicable laws currently in force.

Reacting to the development, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista welcomed the move through a Facebook post. He stated that the West Bengal government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, had removed individuals nominated by the Trinamool Congress from the municipalities of Kurseong, Kalimpong, and Mirik.

He further emphasized that the appointment of SDOs as Administrators was aimed at ensuring uninterrupted delivery of essential municipal services, including water supply, sanitation, street lighting, waste management, and public health facilities, while preparations for fresh elections are completed.

Raju Bista also alleged that under the previous Trinamool Congress administration, these municipalities were functioning without democratic elections since 2022. He assured residents that the new administration would focus on transparency, accountability, and people-centric governance.

According to his statement, the government is committed to conducting municipal elections at the earliest opportunity, after which complete authority will be handed over to duly elected municipal councils without delay.