The chief minister explained the rationale behind the exercise, saying while some wards have over 40,000 to 50,000 voters, the electorate count in some other wards is only around 8,000 to 10,000.
Photo: kmcgov.in
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday proposed a delimitation exercise in the wards of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). The development comes just months before the elections to the civic body in December, 2026, and just weeks after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has come to power in the state in the recently concluded assembly elections.
Speaking during an event at the KMC headquarters in Kolkata, the chief minister explained the rationale behind the exercise, saying while some wards have over 40,000 to 50,000 voters, the electorate count in some other wards is only around 8,000 to 10,000.
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Moreover, some wards have only 15 to 18 booths while others have 50. “This is the reason, delimitation is needed in Kolkata Municipal Corporation,” Adhikari underlined.
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The Chief Minister was speaking at the launch of the ‘Swachh App’ to speed up garbage clearance in the state, and the inaugural ceremony of ‘Swachhata Se Swagat,’ a cleanliness drive in the city to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to address a meeting on June 20 on the occasion of Paschimbanga Divas and participate in the mega International Yoga Day on June 21, the first such event after the BJP came to power in the assembly elections.
Elaborating on the process of delimitation, the chief minister said the state Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Department would initiate the process.
“The state election commission would start the delimitation with the help and consultation of the officials of the Land Department. There would also be people’s participation, claim and objection and an all party meeting. I think that delimitation should be done,” he said.
Following the resignation of Firhad Hakim from the post of Mayor, the civic body is now being governed by an administrator.
The chief minister also informed that the KMC elections would be held on its due time. “Our policy is very clear. Apart from exceptions, wherever there are administrators, we are in favour of holding elections soon,” he added.
Speaking about fund allocations for the civic body, Adhikari highlighted that the state government could allocate Rs 600 crore to the KMC for developmental work if it submits a proposal.
“From our AMRUT Scheme of 60:40 cost ratio basis, we could additionally allocate Rs 500 crore more to the KMC. Under the NAMAMI Ganga scheme which was not implemented properly here, we are trying to increase the STP stations (sewage treatment plants) and allocate Rs 500 crore more under the project,” he said.
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