West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has called for a delimitation of wards under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, citing significant disparities in voter populations across different wards ahead of the civic polls scheduled later this year.
Speaking at the KMC headquarters during the launch of a city cleanliness initiative, Adhikari said he observed major imbalances while campaigning during the Assembly elections. According to the Chief Minister, some KMC wards have as many as 40,000 to 50,000 voters, while others have only 8,000 to 12,000 voters. He also pointed out that some wards operate with just 15–18 polling booths, whereas others have nearly 50 booths.
“During the election campaign, I went from door to door. I saw the ward composition: 40,000-50,000 votes in one ward, while 8,000-12,000 votes in another. This is the reason delimitation is needed in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation,” Adhikari said.
The Chief Minister clarified that the state government's Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Department would send the proposal, but the actual delimitation process would be carried out by the State Election Commission following established procedures, including consultations, public objections, and all-party discussions.
The proposal comes with less than six months remaining before the KMC elections. Adhikari reiterated that the elections would be conducted on schedule, likely by December 2026, and stressed that his government favors restoring elected civic bodies wherever administrators are currently in charge.
Political observers believe the proposed delimitation could significantly reshape Kolkata's electoral map. Supporters argue that redrawing ward boundaries would ensure more equitable voter representation, while critics may view the move through a political lens given the importance of KMC in Bengal's political landscape.
The State Election Commission is expected to examine the proposal in the coming weeks as preparations for the 144-seat KMC election gather momentum.
