West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh on Wednesday, 8 July welcomed the state government's decision to hold long-overdue elections to the Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC) and Bally Municipality, calling it a restoration of democratic governance after more than a decade of administrator-led rule. The civic polls, last held in 2013, are expected to take place shortly after Durga Puja, with the state targeting completion before 5 December.

Why the polls have been delayed

Both the Howrah Municipal Corporation and Bally Municipality have been run by state-appointed administrators since their elected boards' terms lapsed following the 2013 elections — a gap of over 12 years. The absence of elected representatives has drawn sustained criticism from residents and opposition groups who argue that accountability in service delivery has suffered as a result.

Ghosh underscored the democratic deficit created by prolonged administrator rule. 'This is a good decision. Elections have not been held in some corporations for seven, eight, or even nine years. There are no elected representatives, so people are not receiving the services they deserve. The administration has been running these bodies. Our government has decided that, in keeping with democratic principles, the administration should be handed over to elected public representatives,' he said.

Scope of the upcoming elections

The announcement is not limited to Howrah and Bally. Ghosh indicated that polls across dozens of civic bodies across West Bengal are being planned. 'There are dozens of municipalities and corporations where elections have not been held for six, eight years. Those elections will be conducted soon,' he said. The state is expected to roll out a broader electoral calendar for urban local bodies in the coming weeks.

The Baruipur case and Mamata Banerjee's rally

Separately, Ghosh addressed questions about former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's proposed rally in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas, connected to the alleged rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in the area. The Calcutta High Court on 8 July granted permission to Banerjee — who leads the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) — to hold the rally after the party approached the court for approval.

Ghosh said there was no restriction on anyone visiting the area. 'I have said that everyone is free to go. They keep saying they will visit the place; go ahead; no one is stopping anyone. We are neither preventing anyone from going nor hiding anything. The incident happened in full public view, and the action taken afterwards has also been transparent. In the last 50 years, no government has acted like this. Within 24 hours, the police arrested all the accused,' he said.

Police action and SIT probe

The alleged crime in Baruipur triggered widespread outrage after the girl's body was recovered from the area, sparking protests by local residents and political reactions across party lines. Police subsequently arrested multiple accused persons and constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the case. The rally is expected to focus on demands for justice for the victim and broader concerns over women's safety and law and order in the state.

With civic poll dates now on the horizon and a politically charged rally drawing attention to law and order, West Bengal's urban governance and public safety record are set to face heightened scrutiny in the weeks ahead.