By Qalam Times News Desk | Cooch Behar | July 12, 2025
A brewing political storm over the installation of a royal statue in Cooch Behar was defused on Saturday following the personal intervention of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Her direct communication not only resolved the statue row but also calmed tensions within the Trinamool Congress.
The controversy surrounded the installation of a statue of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan near the North Bengal Development Department office at the southwest corner of Sagar Dighi. The Cooch Behar Municipality had initiated the installation on Friday, but the work was abruptly halted, reportedly due to objections raised by North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha. He claimed he had not been informed of the plan and voiced concerns that placing the statue in front of the office would obstruct the main gate, affecting both access and parking.
Following the halt, Cooch Behar Municipality Chairman Rabindranath Ghosh rushed to the site and strongly protested the sudden stoppage. The public disagreement between two senior TMC leaders quickly sparked political chatter across the district.
However, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stepped in promptly on Saturday. She personally called Minister Udayan Guha to understand the issue and gave a clear directive: the statue of the Maharaja should be installed in front of the department office, assuring him that it would not obstruct the gate or traffic movement.
Speaking to media later, Guha confirmed the call and said, “The Chief Minister asked what the problem was. She instructed that the statue be installed in front of the office and assured me that the gate will remain unobstructed. She simply said—get it done properly.”
Guha further clarified that he was unaware of who was officially overseeing the installation. “Had there been prior communication or a formal letter from the municipality, this entire episode could’ve been avoided,” he added. “Now that the CM has spoken, the statue will be placed—perhaps 10 feet to the right or left, but in front of the department as planned.”
Later, Rabindranath Ghosh also confirmed that the original location chosen for the statue will remain unchanged. “The statue of the king will be placed exactly where it was intended,” he said.
With the statue dispute now resolved and intra-party differences ironed out, the matter appears to have ended as swiftly as it escalated—all thanks to the Chief Minister’s timely intervention.
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