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Goutam Deb
Goutam Deb
Goutam Deb
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Goutam Deb (born 6 January 1957)[2] is an Indian Politician currently serving as the Mayor[3] of Siliguri Municipal Corporation in West Bengal. He was the Minister of Department of Tourism of West Bengal from 2016 to 2021. He also served as the Minister of North Bengal Development, a newly formed department in 2011 by Mamata Banerjee. He was a MLA from Dabgram-Phulbari assembly constituency two times. He is also serving as an Observer of Jalpaiguri District Trinamool Congress Committee.

Key Information

Early life and education

[edit]

Goutam Deb did his schooling from Siliguri Boys' High School and thereafter he graduated from Siliguri College [4] with B.A. followed by LL.B. Degree from Surendranath Law College under University of Calcutta.

He enrolled as an advocate at the Siliguri Bar in 1982. His father, Late Tejendra Binod Deb, was also a lawyer and Central Government Standing Counsel at the Calcutta High Court from 1971 to 1988.

He was Panel Counsel and Standing Counsel for the Indian Railways for Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and West Dinajpur District Courts and Arbitrations from 1986 to 1995. His elder brother was the State Advocate General of Sikkim and also acted as Judge in Guwahati, Orissa and Sikkim High Court. He also acted as Acting Chief Justice of Hon’ble High Court of Sikkim for a while.

His elder brother, Late Anup Deb [5] was Acting Chief Justice of Hon’ble High Court of Sikkim.

Personal life

[edit]

His wife is a social worker and elected as Councillor from Ward No. 17, Siliguri Municipal Corporation.

His son Saswata Deb studied in St. Xavier's Collegiate School. He is currently pursuing Computer Science and Engineering from VIT Bhopal. His daughter Dr. Sreya Deb obtained her M.B.B.S. degree from Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital and is currently pursuing her MD degree from St. Johns Medical College, Bengaluru.

Political career

[edit]
  • 1975 - He entered politics as a member of Chhatra Parishad (CP) of Darjeeling District.
  • 1978 – He was directly elected General Secretary of Chhatra Parishad at Siliguri College in North Bengal.
  • 1978 to 1986 – He was the President of Chhatra Parishad of Darjeeling District.
  • From 1988 up to 2015, four times, he remained Councillor of Siliguri Municipal Corporation (formerly Siliguri Municipality) except from 2004 to 2009 (when the seat was reserved)
  • He was President of Youth Congress of Darjeeling District.
  • He remained Leader of Opposition of Siliguri Municipal Corporation 2 times.
  • Joined All India Trinamool Congress in 1998 (AITC).
  • He has been working as President of Darjeeling District Trinamool Congress from 2004, both for plains and hills.
  • He acted as Chairman of Trinamool Congress Core Committee of North Bengal comprising 8 districts.
  • Member, National Working Committee, All India Trinamool Congress.

Official positions held

[edit]
Goutam Deb is taking Oath as Mayor of Siliguri Municipal Corporation
  • Presently acting as Mayor,[6] Siliguri Municipal Corporation. (since 22-Feb-2022 till date)
  • Chairman, Board of Administrators, Siliguri Municipal Corporation. (7-May-2021 to 27-Dec-2021)
  • Minister-in-Charge, Tourism Department (27-May-2016 to 2 May 2021).
  • Chairman, West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (21-March-2017 to 2019)[7]
  • Minister-in-Charge, North Bengal Development Department (20-May-2011 till 19-May-2016)
  • Chairman, Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority [3] (from 15/03/2013 to 04/03/2016)
  • Chairman of North Bengal State Transport Corporation (from 23/04/2012 to 10/06/2015).
  • Chairman of Cooch Behar Development Fund Committee.
  • Chairman of I.C.D.S. for Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri Districts.
  • Chairman of Dinabandhu Mancha Advisory Committee. (Since 24 Aug. 2011)
  • Chairman of Rogi Kalyan Samity of North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, North Bengal Dental College, Siliguri District Hospital, Jalpaiguri District Hospital and Darjeeling District Hospital (Eden Hospital).
  • Chairman of Uttarbanga Unnayan Parshad formed for monitoring and reviewing the progress of development of all 8 districts of North Bengal. (17-Feb-2017 to 25-05-2019)
  • Chairperson of Selection Committee for contractual employees to be engaged under Department of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of West Bengal in Darjeeling SMP area.
  • Chairperson, Rural ASHA & Block ASHA Facilitator of Darjeeling SMP area.
  • President of Managing Committee of Siliguri Boys' High School.
  • President of Managing Committee of Siliguri Girls' High School.
  • Chairman of Tea Advisory Council. (Since 25-May-2017 till 2019)
  • Member, Tea Advisory Council (Since 2019 to 2021)
  • Present Chairman of Rogi Kalyan Samity of North Bengal Medical College and Hospital.
  • Present Chairperson,[8] West Bengal Minimum Wages Advisory Board [4] from 22 November 2022.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Goutam Deb

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Goutam Deb (born 6 1957) is an Indian politician serving as the of (SMC) in . A longtime figure in regional politics, Deb initially rose through the ranks of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), where he served as Minister for in the Left Front government from 1996 to 2011, during which he oversaw the development of major urban projects including the New Town in (now Jyoti Basu Nagar). His tenure faced scrutiny, including a 2001 court finding of responsibility for financial losses exceeding Rs 50 crore at the West Bengal Board and later naming in a 2013 complaint alleging irregularities in public fund allocation. In 2021, Deb affiliated with the All (AITC), contesting and winning a seat in the from Dabgram-Fulbari before being appointed following the TMC's victory in the 2022 Siliguri civic polls, a position he has held since taking oath on 22 February 2022.

Personal background

Early life and education

Goutam Deb was born on 6 January 1957 in , , , , to Tejendra Binod Deb. Deb pursued higher education in the region, earning a graduation degree from the before obtaining a from Surendra Nath Law College, affiliated with the , in 1984.

Family and professional life prior to politics

Goutam Deb was born on 6 January 1957 in , , to Tejendra Binod Deb, a who served as Central Government Standing Counsel. He is married to Shukla Deb, a homemaker who later became a councillor in the ; the couple has two children, daughter Sreya Deb and son Saswata Deb. Deb completed his degree from Surendra Nath Law College, affiliated with the , in 1984. Following his , he practiced as an in the Siliguri Sub-Divisional Court, Darjeeling Court, and Additional District Court in . This legal career preceded his as a to the (then Siliguri Municipality) in 1988, marking his transition into active local politics.

Political career

Entry into politics and party affiliations

Goutam Deb began his political involvement in 1975 as a member of the Chhatra Parishad, the student organization affiliated with the , in . In 1998, following the formation of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) by after her split from the Congress party, Deb joined the new regional party. This transition aligned with many Congress workers in who supported Banerjee's opposition to the long-ruling Left Front government led by the . Deb has maintained continuous affiliation with the TMC since 1998, rising within its ranks to become president of the Trinamool Congress committee in 2004. No records indicate affiliations with other major parties during or after this period.

Electoral history and legislative service

Goutam Deb first contested the West Bengal Legislative Assembly election from the Dabgram-Phulbari constituency in 2011 as a candidate of the All India (AITC), securing victory with a significant margin over the Communist Party of India (Marxist) opponent. He retained the seat in the 2016 election, polling 105,769 votes against 81,958 for the CPI(M) candidate Dilip Singh, resulting in a margin of 23,811 votes. In the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, Deb sought a third consecutive term from Dabgram-Phulbari but was defeated by candidate Sikha Chatterjee, who received 128,302 votes to Deb's 100,844, a margin of 27,458 votes. This loss ended his uninterrupted representation of the constituency since 2011.
Election YearPartyVotes ReceivedMargin of Victory/DefeatOpponent's Party and Votes
2011AITCWon (exact votes not specified in available data)WonCPI(M)
2016AITC105,769+23,811CPI(M): 81,958
2021AITC100,844-27,458BJP: 128,302
Deb served two terms as a (MLA) for Dabgram-Phulbari from May 2011 to May 2021, during the 15th and 16th Assemblies. His legislative tenure focused on regional issues in , though specific bills sponsored or committee roles are not prominently documented in public records. Following his 2021 assembly defeat, Deb transitioned to local governance. In the February 12, 2022, (SMC) elections, AITC secured 37 of 47 wards, enabling the party to form the board and elect Deb as shortly thereafter. He took as , overseeing the corporation's administration amid TMC's dominance in the civic body. As of 2025, Deb continues in this role, with no subsequent direct electoral contests for the mayoral position, which is determined by elected councillors.

Leadership roles within Trinamool Congress

Goutam Deb joined the All India (TMC) shortly after its formation in 1998, initially focusing on organizational work in . By , he had risen to the position of president of the , a role he held for over a decade, overseeing party expansion and electoral strategies in the tea garden-dominated region amid competition from regional parties like the . In November 2015, TMC supremo removed Deb from the president post, replacing him with a younger leader as part of internal restructuring following electoral setbacks in the hills; Deb retained influence through his ministerial portfolio but the move signaled tensions over regional autonomy demands. Subsequently, he served as an observer for the Committee, coordinating cadre mobilization and campaign logistics in the . Deb has been a longstanding member of TMC's national executive , contributing to policy discussions on development and urban governance. In August 2025, he was included in the Plains District Core Committee as part of a party reorganization to strengthen plains leadership ahead of local polls, reflecting his continued advisory role despite past demotions. These positions underscore Deb's evolution from district-level organizer to a senior figure bridging urban and rural TMC factions in northern .

Governmental positions and administration

State ministerial tenures

Goutam Deb served as a state minister in across two successive governments prior to joining the -led administration. Under the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Front government, he held the portfolios of and Public Health Engineering from 18 May 2006 until 13 May 2011. Following his affiliation with the All India and the party's victory in the 2011 assembly elections, Deb was inducted into the first cabinet on 20 May 2011 as Minister-in-Charge of the newly created Development Department, a position he retained until the end of the term on 27 May 2016. In the subsequent cabinet formed after the 2016 elections, Deb was appointed Minister for on 27 May 2016, overseeing initiatives to promote in the state, particularly in regions. He continued in this role until the cabinet's reconstitution following the 2021 assembly elections on 10 May 2021.
PeriodPortfolio(s)Government
18 May 2006 – 13 May 2011; Left Front (CPI(M)-led)
20 May 2011 – 27 May 2016 (1st term)
27 May 2016 – 10 May 2021 (2nd term)

Mayoral role in Siliguri

Goutam Deb assumed the role of Mayor of Siliguri Municipal Corporation on February 22, 2022, following the Trinamool Congress's victory in the civic polls, where he won from ward 33 by over 3,000 votes. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced his nomination as mayor, marking the shift from Left Front control to TMC administration in the corporation. Prior to this, Deb served as Chairman of the Board of Administrators for SMC starting in May 2021, overseeing operations during the interim period after the previous board's tenure expired. In his mayoral tenure, Deb has emphasized an inclusive approach, engaging with diverse communities and addressing urban development needs in , a key gateway city in northern . Key initiatives include infrastructure improvements and welfare programs, highlighted during the corporation's three-year progress review in February 2025, where he felicitated meritorious students and top performers in national exams. He has also prioritized , distributing food and essential supplies to flood-affected areas like Porajhar in 2025. Deb presented a ₹685.24 budget for the financial year 2025-26, allocating funds for urban development, enhancements, and public services to support Siliguri's growth as a commercial hub. Administrative actions under his leadership include relocating the statue of Nepali poet Parijat in May 2024 to preserve and removing a mayor-in-council member in September 2025 amid a meals controversy to maintain oversight. Community engagement efforts feature the "Talk to Mayor" program, reaching its 100th episode by January 2025, and extensive participation in local festivals, attending over 350 events in 2025 to foster civic ties. Additionally, he represented at the National Conference of Urban and Local Bodies in November 2024, advocating for municipal advancements.

Controversies and criticisms

Administrative decisions and public disputes

In July 2024, following a public reprimand from at a Nabanna meeting for inadequate action against land grabbers, Siliguri Mayor Goutam Deb oversaw intensified drives to demolish illegal structures and recover encroached government land, including the use of bulldozers in multiple areas. On July 12, 2024, Deb publicly admitted regret for failing to retrieve all illegally occupied plots in the Dabgram-Fulbari area during his prior tenures as MLA (2009 and 2014) and minister, despite partial recoveries and boundary wall constructions supported by state ministers; he attributed ongoing encroachments to persistent mafia activities. This admission followed Banerjee's directive for stern measures, which prompted the arrest and expulsion from of local leaders Debasish Pramanik and Gautam for involvement in land grabbing. On September 3, 2025, Deb removed Ward 14 councillor Shrabani Datta from her position as Mayor-in-Council (MMIC) in charge of mid-day meals, child welfare, parks, and gardens, citing an altercation two days prior during a Ganesh idol immersion in Ashrampara where Datta was allegedly found inebriated, clashed with locals, recorded opponents, and damaged her official vehicle. Deb stated the decision aimed to uphold transparency and in the (SMC), after consulting residents and informing party leadership, with the affected departments reverting to his direct oversight pending a replacement. Datta countered that she and her daughter were attacked by land-grabbers and corrupt elements, accepted the party's ruling but criticized the lack of formal inquiry, while her supporters alleged hasty action without , dividing opinions in her ward between those praising her prior work and others endorsing the removal. In June 2025, BJP MLA Sankar publicly accused Deb of ties to criminal gangs and stalling development projects in , prompting Deb to rebut the claims and to file an and legal notice against Ghosh, while counter-alleging his own links to anti-social elements. The exchange escalated partisan tensions, with TMC portraying Ghosh's statements as politically motivated misinformation amid ongoing SMC initiatives. Separately, in August 2025, Deb faced internal Trinamool criticism over perceived leniency toward illegal structures, though he defended his interventions to secure land-use conversions for legitimate developments.

Political statements and regional tensions

Goutam Deb has repeatedly articulated Trinamool Congress's staunch opposition to the Gorkhaland statehood demand, framing it as a threat to West Bengal's . On October 6, 2020, as state minister, he declared that his party would "give blood" but would never part with "an inch of Bengal's land" for such a cause, underscoring a willingness to resist violently if necessary. This stance aligns with the party's broader policy against territorial division, which has fueled ongoing friction with Gorkha nationalist groups like the (GJM) advocating for separation based on ethnic and linguistic distinctions in the hills, , and regions. Deb's public engagements in the hills have often precipitated s and heightened regional divides between the Bengali-majority plains of and the Nepali-speaking hill communities. In February 2013, amid black flag demonstrations during his visits, he insisted that ministers would persist in traveling to the hills despite opposition, appealing for calm while maintaining firmness against separatist agitation. Such incidents reflect persistent resentment, with hill leaders in November 2014 uniting to his statements as provocative, warning that opposition to Gorkhaland could prove costly for Trinamool Congress's electoral prospects in the region. During the 2017 Darjeeling unrest, triggered by renewed Gorkhaland demands and marked by a 104-day strike, Deb accused GJM activists of orchestrating "" and claimed they pelted him with stones during an official visit, attributing the to hired agitators rather than genuine grievances. He further criticized external influences, such as Sikkim's government approach to Gorkhaland as "unconstitutional," positioning West Bengal's resistance as lawful preservation of national unity. These remarks intensified accusations from hill proponents that plains leaders like Deb dismiss historical claims to the region, predating its 1835 cession to British Bengal, thereby deepening ethnic and administrative fault lines. More recently, on October 18, 2025, Deb dismissed a proposed interlocutor for Gorkhaland as unhelpful to the hills, reinforcing Trinamool's rejection of concessions amid sporadic and economic disruptions from past agitations. His positions, while defended as safeguarding state cohesion, have been critiqued by separatists for ignoring demands rooted in cultural , contributing to cycles of bandhs, boycotts, and mutual distrust between Siliguri's urban administration and Darjeeling's hill polity.

References

  1. https://www.oneindia.com/politicians/goutam-deb-9543.html
  2. https://www.siligurismc.in/administrator.php
  3. https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/q-a-gautam-deb-cpi-m-leader-111061700068_1.html
  4. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/goutam-deb-guilty-of-causing-rs-50-cr-loss/articleshow/1368451469.cms
  5. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/ex-minister-gautam-deb-named-in-scam/articleshow/19409418.cms
  6. https://www.myneta.info/WestBengal2021/candidate.php?candidate_id=1217
  7. https://siliguritimes.com/goutam-deb-takes-oath-as-mayor-of-siliguri-municipal-corporation/
  8. https://ourneta.com/neta/goutam-deb/
  9. https://www.restaurantindia.in/congress/goutam.php
  10. https://www.myneta.info/WestBengal2016/candidate.php?candidate_id=460
  11. https://chanakyya.com/Assembly-Results/WestBengal/Dabgram-phulbari
  12. https://www.timesnownews.com/elections/dabgram-phulbari-west-bengal-election-result-2021
  13. https://www.oneindia.com/dabgram-fulbari-assembly-elections-wb-19/
  14. https://prsindia.org/mlatrack/goutam-deb
  15. https://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-details/tmc-sweeps-siliguri-civic-polls-deb-announced-as-mayor
  16. https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/gautam-deb-seeks-help-from-all-including-opposition/cid/1853064
  17. https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/mayor-gautam-deb-on-festive-spree-siliguri-bjp-accuses-tmc-leader-of-narrative-rejig-prnt/cid/2129758
  18. https://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/mamata-banerjee-removes-goutam-deb-from-darjeeling-tmc-president-post/articleshow/49683523.cms
  19. https://www.asianage.com/india/gautam-deb-no-longer-tmc-darjeeling-unit-chief-349
  20. https://raumeela.votesmart.in/politician/goutam_deb
  21. https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/trinamool-congress-reward-for-gautam-deb-and-udayan-guha-as-party-boosts-north-bengal-leadership/cid/2066301
  22. https://aitcofficial.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/AITC-PRESS-RELEASE_02082025.pdf
  23. https://wbxpress.com/list-of-council-of-ministers-of-west-bengal/
  24. https://www.rediff.com/news/report/mamata-allocates-portfolios-to-council-of-ministers/20110521.htm
  25. https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/list-of-ministers-in-mamatas-cabinet/article8654872.ece
  26. https://www.facebook.com/rajbasu.conservation/posts/happiest-moment-gautam-deb-tourism-minister-for-the-state-of-west-bengal-it-took/10154865303618332/
  27. https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/bengal-civic-polls-early-leads-give-trinamul-a-headstart/cid/1851830
  28. https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/gautam-deb-to-take-oath-as-mayor-on-tuesday/cid/1852902
  29. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/gautam-deb-new-boa-chief-of-siliguri/articleshow/82443520.cms
  30. https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/new-siliguri-mayor-gautam-deb-focuses-on-inclusive-approach/cid/1853810
  31. https://www.thestatesman.com/bengal/smc-marks-three-years-of-progress-1503400759.html
  32. https://www.facebook.com/siliguritimes/posts/siliguri-mayor-gautam-deb-distributes-food-and-essential-supplies-in-flood-affec/1150764680529592/
  33. https://www.instagram.com/p/DHX4B3EtPlw/?hl=en
  34. https://thecord.in/?p=3057
  35. https://www.thestatesman.com/cities/siliguri/siliguri-mayor-removes-mayor-in-council-member-over-controversy-1503480619.html
  36. https://www.facebook.com/ShivikaMittalOfficial/posts/100th-episode-of-talk-to-mayor-at-siliguri-municipal-corporation-what-a-fantasti/649729594294181/
  37. https://www.instagram.com/p/DCtEmBeNncX/?hl=en
  38. https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/encroached-land-regret-on-gautam-deb-lips-admission-comes-after-mamata-rebuke/cid/2033463
  39. https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/bulldozers-pull-down-illegal-structures-siliguri-municipal-corporation-and-police-continue-with-drive/cid/2030069
  40. https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/mayor-gautam-deb-removes-siliguri-municipal-corporations-mmic-over-altercation-prnt/cid/2121027
  41. https://www.thestatesman.com/cities/siliguri/tmc-hits-back-at-bjp-mla-over-allegations-against-mayor-1503448890.html
  42. https://www.thestatesman.com/cities/siliguri/mayor-faces-fire-from-within-tmc-over-illegal-structures-1503477259.html
  43. https://www.thestatesman.com/cities/siliguri/no-parting-land-gorkhaland-deb-1502928017.html
  44. https://thedarjeelingchronicle.com/open-letter-to-tmc-leader-gautam-deb/
  45. https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/appeal-for-calm-firmness-on-visits-deb-says-ministers-would-go-to-hills-despite-protests/cid/338883
  46. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=472541896216930&id=317888468348941&set=a.318139064990548
  47. https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/deb-slams-morcha-for-hill-unrest/cid/1526338
  48. https://www.firstpost.com/politics/darjeeling-unrest-west-bengal-tourism-minister-gautam-deb-slams-gjm-for-resorting-to-vandalism-3808411.html
  49. https://www.facebook.com/thesikkimchronicle/posts/sikkimchroniclegoutam-deb-says-sikkim-governments-approach-towards-gorkhaland-un/1880134992305674/
  50. https://thedarjeelingchronicle.com/the-outsider-fiasco-revisiting-the-history-of-darjeeling/
  51. https://theshillongtimes.com/2025/10/18/political-row-erupts-in-bengal-over-gorkhaland-dialogue-interlocutor/
  52. https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/anger-in-the-hills/article9873307.ece
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