New Delhi, July 8 (IANS) West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh on Wednesday welcomed the announcement of elections to the Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC) and Bally Municipality, saying the decision would restore democratic governance in civic bodies where polls have remained pending for several years.

Speaking to reporters, Ghosh said elected representatives were essential to ensuring better public services and that prolonged administration through state-appointed officials was not in the interest of the people.

“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,” Ghosh said.

He said that the process has begun, adding, “There are dozens of municipalities and corporations where elections have not been held for six, eight years. Those elections will be conducted soon.”

The Howrah Municipal Corporation and Bally Municipality elections are expected to be held shortly after Durga Puja, with the state aiming to complete the electoral process before December 5.

The civic polls have been delayed for years, with the last elections having taken place in 2013. Since then, both civic bodies have been administered by state-appointed administrators in the absence of elected boards.

Responding to questions about former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s proposed rally in connection with the alleged rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas, 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. Those who were demanding permission to visit have now gone there under police security. Opposition leaders are taking photographs and giving statements…” he said.

Earlier, the Calcutta High Court granted permission to Mamata Banerjee to hold a rally on July 8 in connection with the alleged rape and murder of the 11-year-old girl in Baruipur after the Trinamool Congress supremo approached the court seeking approval for the protest programme.

The rally is expected to focus on demands for justice for the victim while raising concerns over women’s safety and law and order in the state.

The alleged crime sparked widespread outrage after the girl’s body was recovered from the Baruipur area. The incident triggered protests by local residents as well as political reactions across party lines. Police subsequently arrested multiple accused persons and constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the case.

–IANS

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