Loyalty took precedence over everything else as Mamata Banerjee handed over the reins of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation to old family loyalist Krishna Chakraborty, who was at the helm of the civic body since 2019 onwards, since the first mayor, Sabyasachi Dutta, defected to the BJP.

Despite Sabyasachi’s triumphant return, the solidity with which the Chakraborty couple Krishna and Samir (also known as Bua) protected the Bidhannagar citadel for the Trinamul has paid off.

In the Assembly elections of 2021, too, the Trinamul had successfully stopped Sabyasachi, then contesting on a BJP ticket, and retained the seat. While the MLA's seat went to Sujit Bose, Mamata did not forget the contribution of the Chakrabortys in meeting the BJP threat.

While many a Trinamul leader are interested in getting a share of the Bidhannagar pie, considering its upmarket status, the turf for Krishna will not be easy from here on.

“Sabyasachi’s exit in 2019 had removed one element from the Bidhannagar turf war. His being made the chairman is not going to make it any easy for Krishna, given that he himself was harbouring ambitions of becoming the mayor again,” said a Trinamul source. This time Sabyasachi had to settle for the post of chairman of the municipal corporation of which he was the first mayor.

Krishna also has to contend with the local MP Kakali Ghosh Dastidar, who also takes an active interest in Salt Lake through her lobby led by former CPM strongman Tapas Chatterjee, who was deputy mayor the last time.

Last October, Sabyasachi’s return to the Trinamul fold had reignited his old feud with the local MLA Sujit Bose. Neither Tapas Chatterjee nor Bose were comfortable with Sabyasachi’s being allowed to return to Trinamul.

“He has been kind of rewarded despite all his anti-party activities in the years since he quit. The people of Bidhannagar will not forget that easily,” a Trinamul leader close to MLA Bose had claimed before the civic polls.

The results, however, proved him wrong as Dutta made it as a councillor.

Mamata has packed the civic board with members from Salt Lake, as the mayor, chairperson and deputy mayor (Anita Mondal) are all from the prized township.

“Earlier, at least the deputy mayor’s post was left for someone from the Rajarhat-Gopalpur segments which are a part of the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation. This time, there is no top representation for that area. Let us see if any councillor from the area will be included in the members' mayor-in-council,” said a Trinamul leader from Gopalpur.