Kolkata, 17 October (H.S.): Former Kolkata Mayor and state minister Shovan Chatterjee has been appointed as the Chairman of the New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA), marking his formal return to administrative responsibility after seven years. The state government issued the official notification on Friday, replacing former Chief Secretary and Chief Advisor to the Chief Minister, Alapan Bandyopadhyay, who previously held the post.

Chatterjee’s re-entry into an administrative position comes just 48 hours after his meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Darjeeling. The meeting, held at Richmond Hill during Banerjee’s stay in the hills, also included Shovan’s long-time associate, Baisakhi Banerjee. Both had met Banerjee on Wednesday before returning to Kolkata the following day.

The development has stirred fresh political discussions within the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Many in the party view Shovan’s appointment as a strategic message to Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, who recently faced criticism after severe monsoon rains caused widespread flooding in the city, leading to public anger and multiple deaths by electrocution.

Chatterjee, who resigned from both his ministerial and mayoral posts in late 2018, later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 2021 Assembly elections along with Baisakhi Banerjee. However, the duo soon distanced themselves from the BJP and went politically inactive. Despite this, Shovan maintained occasional contact with Mamata Banerjee, even visiting her residence during festive occasions.

Following his September 22 meeting with TMC’s National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, speculation had already begun about his possible return to active politics. His appointment as NKDA Chairman now appears to confirm that comeback.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh