Serampore Municipality

Serampore is the first town in Bengal to voluntarily adopt the Municipal Act of 1850 Sec XX16.[1] It is not clear when Serampore Municipality was established.

Serampore is a pre-colonial town on the west bank of the Hooghly. It was part of Danish India, under the name of Fredericksnagore, from 1755 to 1845.[2]

Serampore Municipality covers an area of 17.60 sq km and has a total population of 183,339 (2011).[3]

In 1981, 29.44% of the total population formed main workers and 70.56% were non-workers in Serampore Municipality and 54.25% 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.[4]

Serampore Walsh Super Speciaity (Subdivisional) Hospital, with 266 beds, Serampore TB Hospital, with 55 beds, Serampore ESI Hospital, with 216 beds, are located in the Serampore Municipality area.[5]

In the 2015 municipal elections for Serampore Municipality Trinamool Congress won 22 seats, CPI(M) 4 seats, Congress 1 seat and Independents 2 seats.[6]

In the 2010 municipal elections for Serampore Municipality Trinamool Congress won 13 seats, Congress 5 seats, CPI (M) 6 seats and Independents 5 seats.[7]

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)."[8]

In the 2005 municipal elections for Serampore Municipality, Congress won 14 seats, CPI (M) 4 seats, CPI 2 seats, Trinamool Congress 4 seats and others 1 seat.[9]