‘Narrow-Minded Mentality’: Dipayan Chakraborty Slams Exclusion of Former Silchar and Udharbond MLAs from SMC Oath Ceremony

Former Silchar MLA Dipayan Chakraborty has criticised the decision to exclude former legislators from the dais during the first Silchar Municipal Corporation (SMC) oath-taking ceremony, describing it as a display of a “narrow-minded mentality”. In a Facebook post, Chakraborty said the decision would remain recorded in the pages of history.

Speaking to Barak Bulletin over the phone, Chakraborty expressed disappointment over the matter, saying that providing seats to the three former legislators would have sent a positive message. He specifically referred to former Silchar MLAs Dilip Paul and himself, along with former Udharbond MLA Mihir Kanti Shome. He also stressed that everyone’s involvement was necessary for the growth of a political party.

The former MLA also defended the development work undertaken by the previous municipality, arguing that several major projects were completed despite the absence of an elected board for years. He claimed that such development work had not been witnessed in the municipality since Independence. However, he acknowledged that some tasks remained incomplete and expressed confidence that the newly elected board would take them forward.

Chakraborty further complained that the work carried out by the previous municipality was not receiving adequate recognition. As an example, he referred to improvements made at the Meherpur dumping ground, which had remained a long-standing civic concern.

According to Chakraborty, work was done to to facilitate transportation to the dumping ground, helping reduce garbage accumulation at the site. However, he claimed that the garbage pileup has now returned to its earlier condition.

Notably, in August 2025, it was reported that nearly two lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste had accumulated at the Meherpur dumping ground over seven decades. A Rs 22 crore waste remediation and recovery project was underway, with nearly 20 per cent of the accumulated waste reportedly processed at the time.

Chakraborty maintained that while the previous municipality had undertaken several significant initiatives, its achievements were not being adequately highlighted. He also reiterated his willingness to participate in an open discussion or debate on the development work carried out during the previous administration.

The first Silchar Municipal Corporation (SMC) oath-taking ceremony was held at Rajiv Bhavan on November 5, 2026, where all 42 newly elected councillors took their oaths. Amarendra Paul, elected from Ward 37, was appointed the city’s first Mayor, while Bijendra Prasad Singh of Ward 9 took charge as Deputy Mayor. The ceremony was attended by Ministers Kaushik Rai and Krishnendu Paul, Rajya Sabha MPs Kanad Purkayastha and Sushmita Dev, several MLAs and other political leaders.