Agartala, Jan 21 (IANS): The Agartala Municipal Council, northeast India's oldest municipal body, Tuesday become a corporation, a minister said.

"Agartala Municipal Council has been upgraded as municipal corporation and 10 nagar panchayats in the sub-divisional towns promoted as municipal councils," Tripura Urban Development Minister Manik Dey said.

"On the occasion of the statehood day Tuesday, these urban local bodies have been upgraded, including newer areas to give better services to the people," he said.

Under the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971, Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya became full-fledged states on Jan 21, 1972.

With a population of around five lakh, the Agartala Municipal Corporation would look after the urban areas of 76 sq km.

Agartala is the second largest city in northeast India after Guwahati in Assam.

The Agartala Municipality was constituted in 1871 during the reign of erstwhile king, Maharaja Chandra Manikya (1862-96).

The first British Political Agent, A.W.B. Power was appointed for princely ruled Tripura in 1871 and become the chairman of the Agartala Municipality.

Tripura merged with the Indian Union Oct 15, 1949.

The minister said Prafullajit Sinha and Samar Chakraborty, the incumbent chief and deputy chief of the Agartala Municipal Council, would be the first Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Agartala Municipal Corporation, respectively.