Rishra Municipality

Rishra municipality was established in 1944.[1]

The earliest mention of Rishra is found in Bipradas Pipilai’s Manasa Mangal Kavya in the fifteenth century. Rishra grew as a place of habitation of cotton and silk weavers, farmers and fishermen. Rishra and Konnagar were initially included in Serampore Municipality.[1]

Rishra Municipality covers an area of 6.48 sq km and has a total population of 122,000 (2011).[2]

In 1981, 31.93% of the total population formed main workers and 68.07% were non-workers in Rishra Municipality and 75.22% of the total main workers were industrial workers. This may be interpreted as follows: although industrial activities are prominent in the municipal areas of the region, the major portion of the population is commuters and migrants find employment in the area.[3]

Rishra Municipal Seva Sadan, with 150 beds, is located in the Rishra Municipality area.[4]

In the 2015 municipal elections for Rishra Municipality Trinamool Congress won 19 seats, CPI 1 seat, Congress 1 seat and Independents 2 seats.[5]

In the 2010 municipal elections for Rishra Municipality Trinamool Congress won 9 seats, Congress won 8 seats, CPI (M) 4 seats, CPI 1 seat and Independent 1 seat.[6]

About the 2010 municipal elections, The Guardian wrote, "Today's municipal elections are unlike any for decades: the Communists, who have held West Bengal's main towns almost without a break since the 1970s, are facing disaster… This time defeat is likely to be definitive and could signal the beginning of the end for the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPIM)."[7]

In the 2005 municipal elections for Rishra Municipality, CPI (M) won 5 seats, CPI 3 seats, Congress 8 seats, Trinamool Congress 1 seat and others 6 seats.[8]