The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), controlled by the Mamata Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress, has triggered intense political debate after issuing demolition notices to 17 properties linked to the party’s own national general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee. The move has raised a key political question across West Bengal: why would a civic body run by the ruling party target its own second-most influential leader?
The notices, issued under Section 400(1) of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation Act, relate to alleged unauthorised constructions and deviations from sanctioned building plans. The properties reportedly include addresses associated with Abhishek Banerjee, his family members, and his company, Leaps and Bounds, including the well-known “Santiniketan” residence on Harish Mukherjee Road.
A Regulatory Action with Political Overtones
Officially, the KMC insists the matter is purely regulatory. Authorities have asked property owners to either remove the allegedly illegal portions within seven days or explain why demolition action should not follow. The notices involve properties located in prominent south Kolkata neighbourhoods such as Kalighat Road and Ustad Aamir Khan Sarani, making the issue politically impossible to ignore.
The civic body argues that the action reflects standard enforcement of municipal rules concerning construction approvals, additional structures, and deviations from sanctioned plans. However, because the notices target one of the TMC’s most powerful leaders, the development has inevitably acquired political significance far beyond municipal compliance.
Why Would TMC Target Its Own “Number Two”?
Political observers see several possible explanations behind the unusual move. One interpretation is that the TMC leadership wants to project an image that even senior party figures are not above the law. At a time when opposition parties, especially the Bharatiya Janata Party, have repeatedly accused the ruling party of shielding influential allies, the KMC action could serve as a message of administrative neutrality.
Others believe the notices may represent an internal balancing exercise within the TMC itself. As succession discussions around Mamata Banerjee’s future continue to dominate Bengal politics, visible scrutiny of Abhishek Banerjee may help counter perceptions that power is becoming overly concentrated within one faction of the party.
There is also speculation that the move allows the TMC to stay ahead of opposition criticism by appearing proactive on allegations involving land use and property irregularities.
Legal Risks for Leaps and Bounds
The notices carry serious legal implications for Leaps and Bounds and associated property owners. Under the KMC Act, authorities can seek building plans, approvals, and explanations regarding any unauthorised additions such as extra floors, lifts, or commercial modifications.
If the explanations are found unsatisfactory, the civic body may proceed under Section 401 of the Act, which permits demolition of unauthorised structures and recovery of demolition costs from owners. The company may legally challenge the notices, but it would still need to demonstrate that all constructions comply with civic regulations or qualify for regularisation.
Beyond demolition, prolonged disputes could also lead to penalties, future permit complications, and reputational damage.
More Than a Municipal Dispute
The KMC notices against properties linked to Abhishek Banerjee are not merely about building violations. They reflect the complex intersection of governance, political optics, succession dynamics, and regulatory credibility within Bengal’s ruling establishment. Whether the action ultimately results in demolition, regularisation, or compromise, the episode has already become politically symbolic. It demonstrates how even internal administrative actions can evolve into larger narratives about power, accountability, and control inside one of India’s most influential regional political parties.
(With agency inputs)
