At least 20 gram panchayat chiefs and four deputy chiefs in North 24 Parganas are facing no-confidence motions after a reported change in the state’s political equation, while 17 chiefs and 14 deputy chiefs have already resigned, raising concerns over the continuity of local administration.
The developments are taking place in gram panchayats controlled by the Trinamool Congress, according to a report by Bartaman Patrika. The reported challenge is therefore coming from within the ruling party-led boards rather than from a direct opposition takeover.
North 24 Parganas has 199 gram panchayats. The report said no-confidence motions had been brought against 20 chiefs and four deputy chiefs after the state-level change in political power. It attributed the figures to sources familiar with developments in the district.
The immediate political contest has also brought allegations of secret understandings between sections of Trinamool Congress members and the Bharatiya Janata Party. These allegations have not been independently established in the supplied report. In some panchayats, the current leadership struggle is being linked to disagreements that began when boards were formed after the 2023 panchayat elections.
According to party sources cited in the report, several members had sought the position of chief when the boards were constituted, but the posts went to other members. The report said the earlier resentment may have resurfaced after the state’s political balance changed, leading to efforts to remove existing chiefs and deputy chiefs.
The issue became particularly tense at Kirtipur II gram panchayat in Barasat II block, where an alleged no-confidence vote led to tension on Thursday night. Sections of panchayat members were accused of having a secret arrangement with the BJP. The report presented the allegation as part of the political debate surrounding the vote, rather than as an established finding.
The district is facing pressure from both no-confidence motions and resignations. That combination could affect the functioning of gram panchayats, which are responsible for delivering and managing several local public services. However, the supplied report does not identify specific services that have already been disrupted or provide details of any temporary administrative arrangements.
A district administration official told Bartaman Patrika that no-confidence motions and the resignations of chiefs and deputy chiefs had become a major issue across several panchayats. The official said the administration was taking appropriate steps to ensure that residents did not face difficulties in accessing services.
The next stage will depend on the procedure and outcomes of the no-confidence votes, as well as on the filling of posts vacated by resignations. For North 24 Parganas, the immediate administrative question is whether the panchayats can maintain routine functioning while their internal leadership contests continue.
