The West Bengal State Election Commission is set to hold an emergency meeting with the district magistrates of districts where municipal elections are scheduled, as preparations for the upcoming civic polls gather pace.
The commission is expected to assess the progress of preparations in each district, the availability of necessary infrastructure for conducting the polls, arrangements for EVMs, deployment requirements and the overall security situation.
Kolkata, Howrah Municipal Polls in Focus
The elections to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and Howrah Municipal Corporation are expected to receive special attention during the meeting, following major changes to their administrative maps.
After the latest ward delimitation, the number of wards in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has increased from 144 to 209, an addition of 65 wards.
Similarly, the number of wards in the Howrah Municipal Corporation has increased from 50 to 68, adding 18 new wards.
Revised ward structure to shape upcoming elections
The upcoming civic polls in both corporations are therefore expected to be conducted on the basis of the revised ward structure. The increase in the number of wards has also brought changes in voter distribution, polling arrangements and administrative requirements.
The commission may discuss the requirement of EVMs based on the new ward structure, deployment of polling personnel, polling stations and other logistical arrangements in Kolkata and Howrah.
The overall preparedness in other municipalities and municipal corporations going to polls will also be reviewed during Wednesday’s meeting.
Political parties step up preparations
Political activity around the civic polls has also intensified.
The Trinamool Congress faction led by Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee is scheduled to hold a meeting later this week to finalise its electoral strategy and candidates for all 209 Kolkata wards, with the stated aim of contesting against the BJP.
Leader of Opposition outlines party’s electoral strategy
Speaking in the Assembly on Tuesday, Banerjee said his party would field candidates against the BJP in all 209 wards following delimitation. He also said candidates would contest in every ward across Howrah and other municipalities in the interest of citizens.
According to Banerjee, senior leaders and those responsible for the municipal elections will meet later this week to take a collective decision on the party’s electoral strategy.
The faction is also preparing guidelines for its representatives who will participate in the public hearings on ward delimitation, scheduled to begin on September 5. Party representatives have reportedly been instructed to attend the hearings with relevant documents and maps.
The faction is also seeking steps from the state government to ensure that voters whose applications related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) remain pending before tribunals are included in the electoral rolls before Durga Puja.
The group is expected to approach both the Chief Minister and the State Election Commission over the issue.
BJP already begins preparations for civic battle
Meanwhile, the BJP has already formed an election committee and begun preparations for the civic polls.
The notification on ward reorganisation in Kolkata and Howrah has effectively set the stage for the upcoming municipal elections, with political parties now stepping up candidate selection and election planning.
