KOLKATA: Siliguri mayor Goutam Deb has indicated that he may resign and rent out part of his house. The move comes after his crushing defeat to BJP’s Shankar Ghosh by 73,192 votes.Siliguri is a major urban constituency in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, encompassing the city of Siliguri and surrounding suburban areas. As a commercial and transport hub of North Bengal, the constituency has considerable political and economic importance.
In 2026, candidates include Goutam Deb of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Shankar Ghosh of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Alok Dhara of the Congress.In the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, the seat was won by TMC’s Ashok Bhattacharya, who defeated his closest rival from the BJP by a margin of about 3,000 votes.The close race reflected Siliguri’s competitive political environment and its mix of urban development issues and voter expectations.The economy is diverse with trade, services, tourism, logistics and small scale industries forming the backbone of livelihoods. Key issues include urban infrastructure, transportation and civic services.Road congestion, drainage, reliable electricity and water supply are major concerns in urban areas, while suburban and peri-urban sectors also highlight infrastructure gaps.Employment opportunities, especially for young people, remain a priority as many residents seek stable jobs in the city’s commercial and service sectors. The constituency went to polls on April 23, as part of Phase 1. Darjeeling district recorded a voter turnout of 88.98%.
