A month after Sabyasachi Dutta and Tapas Chatterjee were sworn in as the mayor and the deputy mayor respectively of the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation, the mayor-in-council members have finally been announced. Only one member of the chairman’s council of the erstwhile Bidhannagar Municipality has found place in the new council — Devasish Jana, who has been rewarded for his “excellent performance”, in the words of the municipal affairs minister Firhad Hakim. A couple of first-time councillors have also made the cut — Rajesh Chrimar, a resident of GC Block who is local MLA Sujit Bose’s aide, and Prosenjit Sardar, son of Bhajai Sardar who is known for his involvement with the construction materials syndicate in New Town. The only woman in the council is Rahima Bibi from Rajarhat.
“We have given representation to all municipal and panchayat areas which form part of the new corporation,” Firhad Hakim, the municipal affairs minister, told The Telegraph Salt Lake. Chirimar was chosen to represent the sizeable Marwari population in the township, he added.
DEVASISH JANA
Portfolio: Solid waste management
Age: 54
Address: AE-788, Sector I, Salt Lake, Calcutta-7000064
Phone number: 9433072329
Education: BA (Hons) from Scottish Church College
Occupation: Fish trade
Elected from: Ward 34
Political experience: A veteran of four terms, Jana became the opposition leader of the erstwhile Bidhannagar Municipality mid-term in 2003 and again in 2005 in the Left Front’s tenure. In 2010, when the Trinamul Congress took over, he headed the conservancy and sewerage drainage department.
Property: In his affidavit submitted before the state election commission, he declared movable assets worth Rs 44,86,934 and immovable assets amounting to Rs 95,60,000.
Where to meet him: At his ward office opposite Big Bazaar in Salt Lake, 7pm-9pm on weekdays. He will be available at Poura Bhavan from 11am to 5pm.
Does not leave home without: Keys to his white Volkswagen Vento, his Samsung Galaxy S6 and handkerchief.
Travels in: Generally drives the Vento around Salt Lake. Sometimes he also uses a Toyota Qualis to commute. He also owns a Mahindra Bolero. Is an ardent football fan.
Lives with: Has a joint family comprising his mother, wife, sister, brother, brother’s wife and brother’s daughter. Has a Pomeranian, a parakeet and ornamental fish. His daughter is away for higher studies in Mumbai.
How he celebrated: “When I got the news I thanked god. Ma cooked pulao for dinner. There was also Bhekti Bhapa, Fish Fry and Chicken Curry. The formal celebration will take place after my wife returns from Mumbai,” Jana said.
Plans: A major upheaval of the waste management system all across the corporation area. This year Salt Lake got water-logged in monsoon and Jana plans to address this. “Salt Lake has got a better solid waste management system in place as compared to Rajarhat and Gopalpur. My focus will be on those areas that have little or no infrastructure in waste management,” Jana said.
RAJESH CHIRIMAR
Portfolio: Mass education
Age: 45
Address: GC 29, Salt Lake, Calcutta 700106
Contact: 9831005660
Occupation: Business
Education: BA in Political Science
Elected from: Ward 39
Political experience: Bidhannagar MLA Sujit Bose’s aide has been managing elections for him since 1996. His role model is Siddhartha Shankar Roy, the former Congress chief minister.
Where to meet him: He has two offices in his ward — in DA Block (available on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 9.30-11am) and in BA-CA Park (available on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 6-8pm).
Does not leave home without: A set of 20 pens in a pouch. “I like to colour code things so I use pens of different colours,” Chirimar said. A 0.5 Microtip pen is his favourite. He also carries a pendrive and his Microsoft phone.
Travels in: A Mahindra Xylo and a Maruti Suzuki Wagon R. Inside his ward, he prefers to walk as it helps him keep fit.
Property: One of the most well-to-do councillors of the corporation. His declared movable assets are worth Rs 1,40,50,130. He owns a house in GC Block and an apartment in Kaikhali, 13kg silver and the two vehicles. The total value of his declared immovable assets amount to Rs 1,40,00,000.
Stays with: Mother, wife, two sons and Scooby, a Golden Retriever.
How he celebrated: Touched his mother’s feet and sought her blessings after he got the news from Bose.
Plans: “I will first look into the scope of work that I can do especially for people of the added areas of Duttabad,” said Chirimar.
SUDHIR SAHA
Portfolio: Parks and lighting
Age: 70
Address: CE 148, Salt Lake
Contact: 9831608113
Occupation: Retired bank employee
Education: MA, LLB from Calcutta University
Elected from: Ward 32
Political experience: Joined the Trinamul Congress during its inception in 1998. Known to be close to panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee and food and supplies minister Jyotipriyo Mullick, Saha was the president of the Bidhannagar Town Trinamul Congress and is the oldest councillor. This is his second term.
Where to meet him: His ward office at EE 55 from 9am to 11am. He can also be reached at Poura Bhavan from 1pm to 5pm on weekdays.
Does not leave home without: His car keys, his Titan watch and his Nokia mobile phone.
Travels in: An eight-year-old silver Hyundai Santro. He also goes for regular morning walks.
Property: In his pre-election affidavit, Saha declared movable assets worth Rs 21,17,733 and immovable assets worth Rs 73,68,000.
Lives with: Wife, son and two Labradors.
How he celebrated: “Jyotipriyo Mullick called me to his Salt Lake office and told me that I had been selected as an MIC member. I immediately ordered sweets,” Saha said.
Plans: “I am happy that I have been given the portfolio which would allow me to beautify gardens and light up all areas of the corporation. I am a passionate gardener myself,” said Saha.
RAHIMA BIBI (MONDAL)
Portfolio: Environment and social welfare
Age: 40
Address: Narayanpur, West Beraberi, Gopalpur, Calcutta-700136
Contact: 98308-43092
Occupation: Homemaker
Education: Passed Madhaymik
Elected from: Ward 2
Political experience: Used to be a chairman-in-council member of the Left-led board of the erstwhile Rajarhat-Gopalpur Municipality. She switched sides with Tapas Chatterjee this year and joined Trinamul Congress.
Where to meet her: Bibi is planning to rent space in Narendranagar and Beraberi as she does not yet have a local ward office.
Does not leave home without: A basic Samsung phone and a writing pad. “I don’t understand smartphones,” she said.
Travels: On bikes of party workers though at times she rents an autorickshaw to ferry her around.
Property: Her affidavit puts her movable assets at Rs 3,17,000 and immovable assets at Rs 38,17,000.
How she celebrated: “Tapas Chatterjee broke the news to me. I told my family members,” Bibi said.
Plans: “I have experience of working in a civic body for over 15 years. I will first understand my department and the workings of a corporation before starting work.”
BIRENDRA NATH BISWAS
Portfolio: Water supply
Age: 61
Address: 1 New Colony, Aswininagar, Baguiati, Calcutta-700159
Contact: 9836593068
Occupation: Retired schoolteacher
Education: B.Com from Calcutta University
Elected from: Ward 22
Political experience: A Youth Congress product, Biswas was the councillor of Ward 28 of the erstwhile Rajarhat Gopalpur Municipality in 2009-2014.
Where to meet him: In the playground near Sabuj Sangha Club near New Colony from 10am to 1pm and from 7pm to 10pm. He promises to come to Poura Bhavan in the afternoons.
Does not leave home without: A big jhola, mobile phone and a pen.
Travels in: A Maruti Suzuki Swift which he drives at times. “I also love riding bikes but my son and daughter-in-law are dead against it.”
Assets: In his affidavit, Biswas disclosed movable assets worth Rs 31,10,990. He owns a residential building in Jyangra whose current market value is Rs 32,00,000.
How he celebrated: “I am a diabetic so there were no sweets for me. I celebrated quietly with my son, daughter-in-law and grandson,” he said.
Plans: “Water supply needs attention in Rajarhat-Gopalpur. There are leakages everyday. I will have to address them immediately. Salt Lake has a much better system in place so I will concentrate on those areas for now,” said Biswas.
PROSENJIT SARDAR
Portfolio: Sports
Age: 25
Address: Village Thakdari, Neye para, Krishanapur, New Town, Calcutta-700102
Contact: 8981451565
Education: Master of Computer Applications from Punjab Technical University
Elected from: Ward 27
Political experience: Poll debutant.
Where to meet him: At Poura Bhavan from 12noon to 4pm on weekdays.
Does not leave home without: Keys to his Mahindra Scorpio and cell phone.
Transport: By car, although he owns a bicycle too.
Property: Sardar disclosed moveable assets worth Rs 21,97,112 in his affidavit and listed his profession as business.
How he celebrated: “I distributed sweets among my well-wishers after I got the news,” Sardar said.
Plans: “I will try to improve sporting infrastructure in the corporation area. I will also encourage players from economically backward sections,” Sardar said.
PRANAY KUMAR RAY
Portfolio: Health
Age: 67
Address: AB 4/8, Deshbandhu Nagar, Baguiati, Calcutta-700059
Contact: 9433759719
Education: BSc from Motijheel College
Occupation: Retired teacher at Chittaranjan Colony Hindu Vidyapith, near Baguiati
Elected from: Ward 10
Political experience: A veteran politician who joined the Congress in 1970. He shifted to Trinamul Congress in 1998 and became a councillor in 2009 in the erstwhile Rajarhat Gopalpur Municipality.
Where to meet him: In his ward office near the canal-side road of Deshbandhu Nagar from 9am to noon.
Does not leave home without: A water bottle, a letterhead pad and his Samsung phone.
Travels in: Prefers walking around but since his ward is huge he often hires e-rickshaws to travel.
Property: Ray declared movable assets worth Rs 7,22,393 and immovable assets amounting to Rs 35,00,000.
Lives with: His family and around 50 flowering plants. He loves reading books and Bibhutibhusan Bandyopadhay is his favourite author.
How he celebrated: “A lot of people called me informing that I had been selected as an MIC member. I will go out and celebrate with my son, daughter and wife now,” Ray said.
Plans: “Two hospitals in Rajarhat, namely Matri Sadan and one in Deshbandhu Nagar, are plagued by a host of problems and I intend to get them operational as fast as possible.”
Are you satisfied with the choice of mayoral council members?
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