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{{short description|Indian Politician}}
{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Sovan Chatterjee<br />শোভন চট্টোপাধ্যায়
| name                = Sovan Chatterjee
| native_name        = শোভন চট্টোপাধ্যায়
| image              = Sovan Chatterjee - Kolkata 2015-10-22 6615.JPG
| image              = Sovan Chatterjee - Kolkata 2015-10-22 6615.JPG
| caption            =  
| caption            =  
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1964|07|07|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Sovan Chatterjee Wiki, Age, Bio, Height, Wife, net Worth, Assets|url=https://india2017.co.in/sovan-chatterjee-wiki-age-bio-height-wife-net-worth-assets.html|publisher=India 2017|accessdate=11 June 2017}}</ref>
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1964|07|07|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Sovan Chatterjee Wiki, Age, Bio, Height, Wife, net Worth, Assets|url=https://india2017.co.in/sovan-chatterjee-wiki-age-bio-height-wife-net-worth-assets.html|publisher=India 2017|access-date=11 June 2017}}</ref>
| birth_place        = [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
| birth_place        = [[Calcutta]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
| residence          =  
| residence          =  
| death_date          =  
| death_date          =  
| death_place        =  
| death_place        =  
| office1            = [[Mayors of Kolkata|38th Mayor of Kolkata]]
| office              = Chairman of New Town Kolkata Development Authority
| deputy1            = Farzana Alam
| term_start          = 17 October 2025
| predecessor        = [[Alapan Bandyopadhyay]]
| office1            = 37th [[Mayor of Kolkata]]
| deputy1            = * Farzana Alam (2010-15)
* [[Iqbal Ahmed]] (2015-18)
| term_start1        = 16 June 2010
| term_start1        = 16 June 2010
| term_end1          = 22 November 2018
| term_end1          = 22 November 2018
| predecessor1        = [[Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Mayors of Kolkata|url=https://www.kmcgov.in/KMCPortal/jsp/MayorsKolkata.jsp|publisher=KMC Gov|accessdate=11 June 2017}}</ref>
| predecessor1        = [[Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Mayors of Kolkata|url=https://www.kmcgov.in/KMCPortal/jsp/MayorsKolkata.jsp|publisher=KMC Gov|access-date=11 June 2017}}</ref>
| successor1          = [[Firhad Hakim]]
| successor1          = [[Firhad Hakim]]
| office2            = Member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly
| office2            = Minister of Fire & Engineering<br>[[Government of West Bengal]]
| constituency2      = [[Behala Purba]]
| constituency2      = [[Behala Purba]]
| term_start2        = 2011
| term_start2        = 2016
| term_end2          = 2021
| term_end2          = 2018
| predecessor2        = Kumkum Chakraborti
| predecessor2        = Kumkum Chakraborti
| successor2          = [[Ratna Chatterjee]]
| successor2          = [[Sujit Bose (politician)|Sujit Bose]]
| office3            = [[Kolkata Municipal Corporation|Councillor, Kolkata Municipal Corporation]]
| office3            = [[Kolkata Municipal Corporation|Councillor, Kolkata Municipal Corporation]]
| constituency3      = [[Ward No. 131, Kolkata Municipal Corporation|Ward No. 131]]
| constituency3      = [[Ward No. 131, Kolkata Municipal Corporation|Ward No. 131]]
| term_start3        = 1985
| term_end3          = 2022
| predecessor3        = Sova Ghosh
| predecessor3        = Sova Ghosh
| term_start3        = 2010
| successor3          = Ratna Chatterjee
| term end2          =2020
| party              = [[Trinamool Congress]] {{small|(1998–2019, 2025–present)}}<br/>[[Bharatiya Janata Party]] {{small|(2019–2021)}}<br/>[[Indian National Congress]] {{small|(1985–1998)}}
| party              = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (2019–2021)
[[Indian National Congress]] (1985–1998) [[All India Trinamool Congress]] (1998–2019)
| otherparty          =  
| otherparty          =  
| spouse              =  
| spouse              =  
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| faculty            =  
| website            =  
| website            =  
| date                = |
| date                =
| year                = |
| year                =  
| source              =  
| source              =  
}}
}}
'''Sovan Chatterjee''' (born 7 July 1964) is an Indian politician who was belonging to [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]. He is the former [[Kolkata Municipal Corporation|Mayor]] of the city of [[Kolkata]], the capital of the Indian state of [[West Bengal]]. Chatterjee had been a [[Kolkata Municipal Corporation]] (KMC) councillor since 1985. In 2019, he joined [[Bharatiya Janata Party]], and left in 2021.
 
'''Sovan Chatterjee''' (born 7 July 1964) is an Indian politician from [[West Bengal]]. He is a former member of [[Indian National Congress]], [[Trinamool Congress]], and the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]. He has also served as the [[Mayor of Kolkata]]. Chatterjee served as a [[Kolkata Municipal Corporation]] (KMC) councilor since 1985. In 2019, he joined [[Bharatiya Janata Party]], and left in 2021. He rejoined TMC officially on 3 November 2025.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=PTI |date=2025-11-03 |title=Sovan Chatterjee returns to TMC after seven years |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/west-bengal/sovan-chatterjee-returns-to-tmc-after-seven-years/article70235953.ece |access-date=2025-11-03 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>


== Political career==
== Political career==
Chatterjee had been a councillor in the KMC since 1985. From 2000 to 2005, he was also a mayor in council of the corporation.<ref name="SC"/> Chatterjee won the [[Behala Purba (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Behala Purba seat]] in the [[2011 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2011 West Bengal Assembly election]],<ref>{{cite web|title=2011 West Bengal Assembly election result|url=http://bengali.oneindia.com/behala-purba-election-results-2011-153.html|publisher=One India}}</ref> which he retained in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Behala Purba Assembly Election result|url=http://infoelections.com/infoelection/electionresult/index.php/home/state-assembly-constituency/west-bengal-election-result/775-BEHALA_PURBAassembly_election_result_2016.html|publisher=Info Elections|accessdate=8 June 2017}}</ref>
Chatterjee, a councillor in the KMC since 1985, also served as a mayor in council from 2000 to 2005, of the corporation.<ref name="SC"/> Chatterjee won the [[Behala Purba (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Behala Purba seat]] in the [[2011 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2011 West Bengal Assembly election]],<ref>{{cite web|title=2011 West Bengal Assembly election result|url=http://bengali.oneindia.com/behala-purba-election-results-2011-153.html|publisher=One India}}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> which he retained in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Behala Purba Assembly Election result|url=http://infoelections.com/infoelection/electionresult/index.php/home/state-assembly-constituency/west-bengal-election-result/775-BEHALA_PURBAassembly_election_result_2016.html|publisher=Info Elections|access-date=8 June 2017}}</ref>


=== Mayor of Kolkata ===
=== Mayor of Kolkata ===
In 2010, he was appointed as the mayor of Kolkata by his party [[All India Trinamool Congress]], with Farzana Alam being appointed as his deputy.<ref name="SC">{{cite web|title=Sovan Chatterjee to be new Kolkata mayor|url=http://hindustantimes.com/india/sovan-chatterjee-to-be-new-kolkata-mayor/story-Qx2KVMf8llpu5bOKv4s0kM.html|work=Hindustan Times|accessdate=7 June 2017}}</ref> He resigned from the mayor post on 22 November 2018.
In 2010, he was appointed the mayor of Kolkata by his party [[Trinamool Congress]], with Farzana Alam being appointed his deputy.<ref name="SC">{{cite web|title=Sovan Chatterjee to be new Kolkata mayor|url=http://hindustantimes.com/india/sovan-chatterjee-to-be-new-kolkata-mayor/story-Qx2KVMf8llpu5bOKv4s0kM.html|work=Hindustan Times|date=6 June 2010 |access-date=7 June 2017}}</ref> He resigned from the mayor post on 22 November 2018.


===Cabinet Minister===
===Cabinet Minister===
Chatterjee was made a cabinet minister in 2016. Former mayor [[Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya]] said that there was no provision in law that prevents a mayor from holding ministerial berth.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mayor Sovan Chatterjee in Mamata's cabinet: Is it legal?|url=http://timesofindia.com/city/kolkata/Mayor-Sovan-Chatterjee-in-Mamatas-cabinet-Is-it-legal/articleshow/52456213.cms|work=Times of India|accessdate=7 June 2017}}</ref> With the decline in supply of cattle, India's first fully automated slaughterhouse (in Tangra area) was shut in May 2017. Chatterjee reacted by saying that he would examine the matter.<ref>{{cite web|title=Supply falls, Kolkata shuts India's first fully automated abattoir|url=http://timesofindia.com/city/kolkata/supply-falls-kmc-shuts-indias-first-fully-automated-abattoir/articleshow/58918700.cms|work=Times of India|accessdate=7 June 2017}}</ref>
Chatterjee was made a cabinet minister in 2016. Former mayor [[Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya]] said that there was no provision in the law that prevents a mayor from holding a ministerial berth.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mayor Sovan Chatterjee in Mamata's cabinet: Is it legal?|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Mayor-Sovan-Chatterjee-in-Mamatas-cabinet-Is-it-legal/articleshow/52456213.cms|work=Times of India|date=26 May 2016 |access-date=7 June 2017}}</ref> With the decline in supply of cattle, India's first fully automated slaughterhouse (in Tangra area) was shut down in May 2017. Chatterjee reacted by saying that he would examine the matter.<ref>{{cite web|title=Supply falls, Kolkata shuts India's first fully automated abattoir|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/supply-falls-kmc-shuts-indias-first-fully-automated-abattoir/articleshow/58918700.cms|work=Times of India|date=31 May 2017 |access-date=7 June 2017}}</ref>


In December 2016, Chatterjee became the first mayor of any city of India to get [[Security categories in India|Z-plus security]] cover (the highest level of security cover in India). In that category, he would get security cover by [[National Security Guard]] commandos.<ref>{{cite web|title=Z+ cover for mayor, Abhishek Banerjee|url=http://timesofindia.com/city/kolkata/Z-cover-for-mayor-Abhishek-Banerjee/articleshow/55828708.cms|work=Times of India|accessdate=7 June 2017}}</ref>
In December 2016, Chatterjee became the first mayor of any city in India to get [[Security categories in India|Z-plus security]] cover (the highest level of security cover in India). In that category, he would get security cover by [[National Security Guard]] commandos.<ref>{{cite web|title=Z+ cover for mayor, Abhishek Banerjee|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Z-cover-for-mayor-Abhishek-Banerjee/articleshow/55828708.cms|work=Times of India|date=6 December 2016 |access-date=7 June 2017}}</ref>


In November 2014, Chatterjee was announced as the mayoral candidate of his party for the civic polls which were to be held in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sovan Chatterjee to be TMC's mayoral candidate for KMC elections|url=http://timesofindia.com/city/kolkata/Sovan-Chatterjee-to-be-TMCs-mayoral-candidate-for-KMC-elections/articleshow/45068031.cms|work=Times of India|accessdate=8 June 2017}}</ref> He was reappointed as the mayor of the city in May, as his party won the polls.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sovan Chatterjee back as Kolkata mayor|url=http://www.thestatesman.com/bengal/sovan-chatterjee-back-as-kolkata-mayor-62290.html|work=The Statesman|accessdate=8 June 2017}}</ref>
In November 2014, Chatterjee was announced as the mayoral candidate of his party for the civic polls which were to be held in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sovan Chatterjee to be TMC's mayoral candidate for KMC elections|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Sovan-Chatterjee-to-be-TMCs-mayoral-candidate-for-KMC-elections/articleshow/45068031.cms|work=Times of India|date=7 November 2014 |access-date=8 June 2017}}</ref> He was reappointed the mayor of the city in May, as his party won the polls.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sovan Chatterjee back as Kolkata mayor|url=http://www.thestatesman.com/bengal/sovan-chatterjee-back-as-kolkata-mayor-62290.html|work=The Statesman|access-date=8 June 2017}}</ref>


===Career In BJP===
===Career In BJP===
On 22 November 2018 he resigned from the mayor post of Kolkata Municipal Corporation. He later joined BJP on 14 August 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/trinamool-mla-sovan-chatterjee-likely-to-join-bjp-today-2084952%3famp=1&akamai-rum=off|title=Sovan Chatterjee joins BJP}}</ref> He was the observer of Kolkata Zone for West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party. On 14 March 2021 he quit BJP along with his girlfriend/Live-in partner Baisakhi Banerjee citing unhappiness over not getting assembly election WB '21 ticket in his desired place.
On 22 November 2018, he resigned from the mayor post of Kolkata Municipal Corporation. He later joined BJP on 14 August 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/trinamool-mla-sovan-chatterjee-likely-to-join-bjp-today-2084952%3famp=1&akamai-rum=off|title=Sovan Chatterjee joins BJP}}</ref> He was the observer of Kolkata Zone for West Bengal [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]. He left BJP in 2021.
 
===Rejoining TMC===
 
On 15 October 2025, he met with West Bengal CM and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee in Derjeeling . He had also met Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee few week before. Two days after, on October 15, he was appointed as the Chairman of Newtown Kolkata Development Authority [NKDA] by a Government order.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chatterjee |first=Shrabana |date=2025-10-19 |title=Sovan Chatterjee's new Kolkata civic body post after 7 years reignites talk of Trinamool truce |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/west-bengal/sovan-chatterjees-new-kolkata-civic-body-post-after-7-years-reignites-talk-of-trinamool-truce/article70179103.ece |access-date=2025-11-03 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> After this, a rumor spread about his rejoining in TMC. Lastly he officially rejoined TMC on 3 November 2025.<ref name=":0" />
 
== Personal life ==
[[File:Baishakhi Banerjee And Sovan Chatterjee - Kolkata 2023-12-05 8497.jpg|thumb|right|Sovan Chatterjee and Baisakhi Banerjee at the 29th Kolkata International Film Festival, 2023]]
Sovan Chatterjee married [[Ratna Chatterjee|Ratna]], daughter of [[Dulal Chandra Das]], in 2001. They have a son, Saptarshi.
 
Since 2018, Chatterjee has been estranged from his wife. He filed for divorce, citing her alleged extramarital affair with her business partner Abhijit Ganguly, which Ratna denied. Ratna has refused to grant Sovan a divorce.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.sangbadpratidin.in/article/baisakhi-banerjee-submitted-affidavit-in-alipore-court-in-sovan-chatterjees-divorce-case/797634|title=শোভনের বিবাহবিচ্ছেদের মামলায় প্রধান সাক্ষী বৈশাখী, 'ডিভোর্স দেব না', পালটা রত্নার}}</ref> Citing threats to his life from Ratna, Sovan left his Behala residence and now lives in a Golpark flat with Baisakhi Banerjee, a university lecturer and member of TMC's teachers' unit, with whom he has been having an extramarital affair since 2009.{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}} Ratna has blamed Baisaikhi (who left her husband within two months of their marriage to live with Sovan) for instigating trouble in their married life. Sovan was reportedly displeased when Dulal Chandra Das was fielded as TMC's candidate for bypolls to the [[Maheshtala (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Maheshtala seat]] in 2018, which he interpreted as party supremo [[Mamata Banerjee]] siding with his wife. In November 2018, Mamata Banerjee also made Sovan resign as a minister in her cabinet and as mayor of [[Kolkata Municipal Corporation]] because his marital problems were affecting his work,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/mayors-marital-troubles-give-kolkata-reality-show/articleshow/66742872.cms|title=Mayor's Marital Troubles Give Kolkata Reality Show|work=The Times of India |date=22 November 2018 }}</ref> which caused him to further distance himself from the party. In August 2019, Sovan and Baisakhi joined BJP,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-08-15 |title=Former Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatterjee joins BJP |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/former-kolkata-mayor-sovan-chatterjee-joins-bjp-5906172/ |access-date=2025-11-03 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> while Ratna continued to remain in TMC. Sovan has not been very active in the party, citing its lack of respect for Baisakhi.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eisamay.com/west-bengal-news/kolkata-news/baisakhi-banerjee-showed-anger-as-she-was-not-invited-by-bjp-in-sovon-chatterjees-welcome-event/articleshow/70753242.cms|title=শোভনের সংবর্ধনায় আমন্ত্রিত নন, রাজ্য বিজেপির উপর ক্ষুব্ধ বৈশাখী|work=Eisamay }}</ref> In [[2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|the 2021 state elections]], TMC fielded Ratna Chatterjee as its candidate from Sovan's erstwhile seat of [[Behala Purba Assembly constituency|East Behala]]. Sovan wanted to be fielded there as the BJP candidate, but the party refused and instead planned to field him in the neighbouring seat of [[Behala Paschim Assembly constituency|West Behala]]. Citing this and the party's refusal to make Baisakhi a candidate in the elections, Sovan quit the BJP alongside Baisakhi on 14 March 2021, two weeks before polling began.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eisamay.com/elections/assembly-elections/west-bengal/news/dilip-ghosh-speaks-on-sovan-chatterjee-baisakhi-banerjee-resignation-from-bjp/articleshow/81507066.cms|title=BJP ছাড়লেন শোভন-বৈশাখী! মুখ খুললেন দিলীপ|date=15 March 2021 }}</ref>
 
After Sovan was arrested over the Narada sting operation, Baisakhi was recorded by the media crying before the security guards of [[Alipore Jail]] to allow her to meet him. They refused on the grounds that she was not related to him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eisamay.com/west-bengal-news/kolkata-news/narada-scam-friend-of-jailed-leader-baisakhi-banerjee-breaks-down/articleshow/82723634.cms|title='ওষুধটুকু দিতে দিন', জেল ফটক ধরে হাপুস নয়নে কান্না বৈশাখীর}}</ref> Sovan refused to meet with Ratna, who was allowed to meet him in jail.
 
Sovan has made Baisakhi his legal heir, displacing his wife and son.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.anandabazar.com/amp/west-bengal/sovan-chatterjee-says-he-has-transferred-all-his-properties-to-baishakhi-banerjees-name-in-a-legal-way-dgtl/cid/1287301|title=স্থাবর-অস্থাবর সম্পত্তি বৈশাখীর নামে লিখে দিয়েছেন, ঘোষণা করলেন শোভন}}</ref>


== Views ==
== Views ==
=== Bhangar Power Grid ===
=== Bhangar Power Grid ===
Chatterjee supports the restoration work of building the Bhangar Power Grid, which was stopped due to protests of villagers over acquisition of land. He said that outsiders with vested interests were hindering development.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sovan bats for restoration of work at Bhangar power grid|url=http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/kolkata-243612|work=Millennium Post|accessdate=7 June 2017}}</ref>
Chatterjee supports the restoration work of building the Bhangar Power Grid, which was stopped due to the protests of villagers over the acquisition of land. He said that outsiders with vested interests were hindering development.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sovan bats for restoration of work at Bhangar power grid|url=http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/kolkata-243612|work=Millennium Post|date=24 May 2017 |access-date=7 June 2017}}</ref>


=== Water crisis ===
=== Water crisis ===
In May 2017, there were reports of water crisis in South Kolkata. Areas affected included Garden Reach, Watgunj, Kidderpore. [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] councillors boycotted a monthly meeting of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to protest against the body's inability to solve the issue. About the complaints, Chatterjee said that the opposition were making a "mountain out of a mole hill".<ref>{{cite web|title=Severe water crisis in south Kolkata area|url=http://timesofindia.com/city/kolkata/severe-water-crisis-in-south-kolkata-area/articleshow/58703306.cms|work=Times of India|accessdate=7 June 2017}}</ref>
In May 2017, there were reports of water crisis in South Kolkata. Areas affected included Garden Reach, Watgunj, Kidderpore. [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] councillors boycotted a monthly meeting of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to protest against the body's inability to solve the issue. About the complaints, Chatterjee said that the opposition was making a "mountain out of a molehill".<ref>{{cite web|title=Severe water crisis in south Kolkata area|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/severe-water-crisis-in-south-kolkata-area/articleshow/58703306.cms|work=Times of India|date=16 May 2017 |access-date=7 June 2017}}</ref>


==Controversies==
==Controversies==
On 17 May 2021, he along with senior minister in the [[Mamata Banerjee]] cabinet, [[Subrata Mukherjee]], MLA and former minister [[Madan Mitra]] and [[Firhad Hakim]] has been arrested by [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] from their house in connection with the [[Narada sting operation]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Narada bribery case: 2 ministers, 1 MLA arrested, Mamata rushes to CBI office|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/firhad-hakim-among-tmc-leaders-detained-by-cbi-in-narada-case-7318174/|work=[[Indian Express]]|access-date=17 May 2021|date=17 May 2021}}</ref>
On 17 May 2021, he, along with senior minister in the [[Mamata Banerjee]] cabinet, [[Subrata Mukherjee]], MLA and former minister [[Madan Mitra]] and [[Firhad Hakim]] were arrested by the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] from their house in connection with the [[Narada sting operation]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Narada bribery case: 2 ministers, 1 MLA arrested, Mamata rushes to CBI office|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/firhad-hakim-among-tmc-leaders-detained-by-cbi-in-narada-case-7318174/|work=[[Indian Express]]|access-date=17 May 2021|date=17 May 2021}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category|Sovan Chatterjee}}
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website|https://www.sovanchatterjee.org/}}
*{{Official website|https://www.sovanchatterjee.org/}}
* [https://www.kmcgov.in/KMCPortal/jsp/Mayor'sDesk.jsp Mayor's desk, KMC Official Website]
* [https://www.kmcgov.in/KMCPortal/jsp/Mayor'sDesk.jsp Mayor's desk, KMC Official Website]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chatterjee, Sovan}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chatterjee, Sovan}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century mayors of places in India]]
[[Category:Politicians from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Politicians from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Bengali politicians]]
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri Law College alumni]]
[[Category:Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri Law College alumni]]
[[Category:University of Calcutta alumni]]
[[Category:University of Calcutta alumni]]
[[Category:Mayors of Kolkata]]
[[Category:Mayors of Kolkata]]
[[Category:All India Trinamool Congress politicians from West Bengal]]
[[Category:West Bengal MLAs 2011–2016]]
[[Category:West Bengal MLAs 2011–2016]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from West Bengal]]
[[Category:West Bengal MLAs 2016–2021]]
[[Category:West Bengal MLAs 2016–2021]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from West Bengal]]
[[Category:State cabinet ministers of West Bengal]]
[[Category:Trinamool Congress politicians from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Members of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation]]

Latest revision as of 02:42, 23 January 2026


Sovan Chatterjee
শোভন চট্টোপাধ্যায়
Chairman of New Town Kolkata Development Authority
Assumed office
17 October 2025
Preceded byAlapan Bandyopadhyay
37th Mayor of Kolkata
In office
16 June 2010 – 22 November 2018
Deputy
Preceded byBikash Ranjan Bhattacharya[1]
Succeeded byFirhad Hakim
Minister of Fire & Engineering
Government of West Bengal
In office
2016–2018
Preceded byKumkum Chakraborti
Succeeded bySujit Bose
ConstituencyBehala Purba
Councillor, Kolkata Municipal Corporation
In office
1985–2022
Preceded bySova Ghosh
Succeeded byRatna Chatterjee
ConstituencyWard No. 131
Personal details
Born (1964-07-07) 7 July 1964 (age 62)[2]
Calcutta, West Bengal, India
Political partyTrinamool Congress (1998–2019, 2025–present)
Bharatiya Janata Party (2019–2021)
Indian National Congress (1985–1998)

Sovan Chatterjee (born 7 July 1964) is an Indian politician from West Bengal. He is a former member of Indian National Congress, Trinamool Congress, and the Bharatiya Janata Party. He has also served as the Mayor of Kolkata. Chatterjee served as a Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) councilor since 1985. In 2019, he joined Bharatiya Janata Party, and left in 2021. He rejoined TMC officially on 3 November 2025.[3]

Political career[edit | edit source]

Chatterjee, a councillor in the KMC since 1985, also served as a mayor in council from 2000 to 2005, of the corporation.[4] Chatterjee won the Behala Purba seat in the 2011 West Bengal Assembly election,[5] which he retained in 2016.[6]

Mayor of Kolkata[edit | edit source]

In 2010, he was appointed the mayor of Kolkata by his party Trinamool Congress, with Farzana Alam being appointed his deputy.[4] He resigned from the mayor post on 22 November 2018.

Cabinet Minister[edit | edit source]

Chatterjee was made a cabinet minister in 2016. Former mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya said that there was no provision in the law that prevents a mayor from holding a ministerial berth.[7] With the decline in supply of cattle, India's first fully automated slaughterhouse (in Tangra area) was shut down in May 2017. Chatterjee reacted by saying that he would examine the matter.[8]

In December 2016, Chatterjee became the first mayor of any city in India to get Z-plus security cover (the highest level of security cover in India). In that category, he would get security cover by National Security Guard commandos.[9]

In November 2014, Chatterjee was announced as the mayoral candidate of his party for the civic polls which were to be held in 2015.[10] He was reappointed the mayor of the city in May, as his party won the polls.[11]

Career In BJP[edit | edit source]

On 22 November 2018, he resigned from the mayor post of Kolkata Municipal Corporation. He later joined BJP on 14 August 2019.[12] He was the observer of Kolkata Zone for West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party. He left BJP in 2021.

Rejoining TMC[edit | edit source]

On 15 October 2025, he met with West Bengal CM and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee in Derjeeling . He had also met Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee few week before. Two days after, on October 15, he was appointed as the Chairman of Newtown Kolkata Development Authority [NKDA] by a Government order.[13] After this, a rumor spread about his rejoining in TMC. Lastly he officially rejoined TMC on 3 November 2025.[3]

Personal life[edit | edit source]

Sovan Chatterjee and Baisakhi Banerjee at the 29th Kolkata International Film Festival, 2023

Sovan Chatterjee married Ratna, daughter of Dulal Chandra Das, in 2001. They have a son, Saptarshi.

Since 2018, Chatterjee has been estranged from his wife. He filed for divorce, citing her alleged extramarital affair with her business partner Abhijit Ganguly, which Ratna denied. Ratna has refused to grant Sovan a divorce.[14] Citing threats to his life from Ratna, Sovan left his Behala residence and now lives in a Golpark flat with Baisakhi Banerjee, a university lecturer and member of TMC's teachers' unit, with whom he has been having an extramarital affair since 2009.[citation needed] Ratna has blamed Baisaikhi (who left her husband within two months of their marriage to live with Sovan) for instigating trouble in their married life. Sovan was reportedly displeased when Dulal Chandra Das was fielded as TMC's candidate for bypolls to the Maheshtala seat in 2018, which he interpreted as party supremo Mamata Banerjee siding with his wife. In November 2018, Mamata Banerjee also made Sovan resign as a minister in her cabinet and as mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation because his marital problems were affecting his work,[15] which caused him to further distance himself from the party. In August 2019, Sovan and Baisakhi joined BJP,[16] while Ratna continued to remain in TMC. Sovan has not been very active in the party, citing its lack of respect for Baisakhi.[17] In the 2021 state elections, TMC fielded Ratna Chatterjee as its candidate from Sovan's erstwhile seat of East Behala. Sovan wanted to be fielded there as the BJP candidate, but the party refused and instead planned to field him in the neighbouring seat of West Behala. Citing this and the party's refusal to make Baisakhi a candidate in the elections, Sovan quit the BJP alongside Baisakhi on 14 March 2021, two weeks before polling began.[18]

After Sovan was arrested over the Narada sting operation, Baisakhi was recorded by the media crying before the security guards of Alipore Jail to allow her to meet him. They refused on the grounds that she was not related to him.[19] Sovan refused to meet with Ratna, who was allowed to meet him in jail.

Sovan has made Baisakhi his legal heir, displacing his wife and son.[20]

Views[edit | edit source]

Bhangar Power Grid[edit | edit source]

Chatterjee supports the restoration work of building the Bhangar Power Grid, which was stopped due to the protests of villagers over the acquisition of land. He said that outsiders with vested interests were hindering development.[21]

Water crisis[edit | edit source]

In May 2017, there were reports of water crisis in South Kolkata. Areas affected included Garden Reach, Watgunj, Kidderpore. Left Front councillors boycotted a monthly meeting of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to protest against the body's inability to solve the issue. About the complaints, Chatterjee said that the opposition was making a "mountain out of a molehill".[22]

Controversies[edit | edit source]

On 17 May 2021, he, along with senior minister in the Mamata Banerjee cabinet, Subrata Mukherjee, MLA and former minister Madan Mitra and Firhad Hakim were arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation from their house in connection with the Narada sting operation.[23]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Mayors of Kolkata". KMC Gov. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  2. ↑ "Sovan Chatterjee Wiki, Age, Bio, Height, Wife, net Worth, Assets". India 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 PTI (3 November 2025). "Sovan Chatterjee returns to TMC after seven years". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Sovan Chatterjee to be new Kolkata mayor". Hindustan Times. 6 June 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  5. ↑ "2011 West Bengal Assembly election result". One India.[permanent dead link]
  6. ↑ "Behala Purba Assembly Election result". Info Elections. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  7. ↑ "Mayor Sovan Chatterjee in Mamata's cabinet: Is it legal?". Times of India. 26 May 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  8. ↑ "Supply falls, Kolkata shuts India's first fully automated abattoir". Times of India. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  9. ↑ "Z+ cover for mayor, Abhishek Banerjee". Times of India. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  10. ↑ "Sovan Chatterjee to be TMC's mayoral candidate for KMC elections". Times of India. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  11. ↑ "Sovan Chatterjee back as Kolkata mayor". The Statesman. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  12. ↑ "Sovan Chatterjee joins BJP".
  13. ↑ Chatterjee, Shrabana (19 October 2025). "Sovan Chatterjee's new Kolkata civic body post after 7 years reignites talk of Trinamool truce". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  14. ↑ "শোভনের বিবাহবিচ্ছেদের মামলায় প্রধান সাক্ষী বৈশাখী, 'ডিভোর্স দেব না', পালটা রত্নার".
  15. ↑ "Mayor's Marital Troubles Give Kolkata Reality Show". The Times of India. 22 November 2018.
  16. ↑ "Former Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatterjee joins BJP". The Indian Express. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  17. ↑ "শোভনের সংবর্ধনায় আমন্ত্রিত নন, রাজ্য বিজেপির উপর ক্ষুব্ধ বৈশাখী". Eisamay.
  18. ↑ "BJP ছাড়লেন শোভন-বৈশাখী! মুখ খুললেন দিলীপ". 15 March 2021.
  19. ↑ "'ওষুধটুকু দিতে দিন', জেল ফটক ধরে হাপুস নয়নে কান্না বৈশাখীর".
  20. ↑ "স্থাবর-অস্থাবর সম্পত্তি বৈশাখীর নামে লিখে দিয়েছেন, ঘোষণা করলেন শোভন".
  21. ↑ "Sovan bats for restoration of work at Bhangar power grid". Millennium Post. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  22. ↑ "Severe water crisis in south Kolkata area". Times of India. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  23. ↑ "Narada bribery case: 2 ministers, 1 MLA arrested, Mamata rushes to CBI office". Indian Express. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.

External links[edit | edit source]

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