The West Bengal government has decided to increase the number of municipal wards in Kolkata from 144 to 209 and in Howrah from 50 to 68 as part of a major delimitation exercise ahead of the upcoming civic polls.
The proposal will be placed before the West Bengal Legislative Assembly during a special one-day session on August 12, where the state government will introduce an amendment bill to formalise the revised ward structure.
Kolkata ward count rises to 209
Following a cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the delimitation exercise was aimed at ensuring a more balanced voter distribution across wards before the municipal elections, which are expected to be held by the end of November.
Earlier, the government had issued a notification to redraw the boundaries of Kolkata’s 144 wards and increase the total to 200. However, while attempting to maintain an average of around 16,000 voters per ward, officials encountered administrative and geographical complexities.
Amendment bill slated for August twelve
As a result, instead of the initially proposed 200 wards, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) submitted a revised map with 209 wards to the Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Department. Despite the increase in wards, Kolkata is expected to continue with 16 boroughs, according to sources.
Delimitation completed before civic elections
The revised ward map will now be used by the State Election Commission (SEC) to conduct an all-party meeting and determine reservations for women and Scheduled Caste (SC) categories. These processes are likely to be completed before Durga Puja.
In Howrah, the delimitation process has also been completed, increasing from 50 to 68 wards. The city has not held municipal elections for nearly eight years and has been administered by government-appointed officials during this period.
Municipal polls likely after Durga Puja
The amendment bill covering the revised ward structure for both Kolkata and Howrah is expected to be passed during the Assembly’s special monsoon session on August 12, paving the way for the conduct of civic elections in the two corporations and other municipalities currently under administrative control.
