Amendment Bills to increase wards in two civic bodies passed in Bengal Assembly (2nd Ld)
Kolkata, Aug 12 (IANS) Two Amendment Bills proposing an increase in the number of wards in two municipal corporations, namely Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and the Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC), were passed through a voice-vote in the West Bengal Assembly on Wednesday during the single-day special session of the House on Wednesday.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposed to increase the number of wards under KMC from the current 144 to 209.
On the other hand, Howrah Municipal Corporation (Revised Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposes to increase the number of wards under the Howrah municipal body from 50 to 68.
At the same time, the second Bill also proposes to separate Bally Municipality in Howrah-district from the Howrah Municipal Corporation.
The elections for the two municipal corporations are scheduled by the end of the current year and, in all probability, may be held immediately after the end of the festive season starting with Durga Puja in October and ending with Diwali in November.
During the debate on the two Bills on the floor of the House on Saturday, the legislators belonging to the Mamata Banerjee-led “original but minority” faction claimed that it was not clear whether in the next elections later this year, whether there will be elections held for all the 209 wards or only for the earlier 144 wards.
Participating in the debate, veteran Trinamool Congress legislator, Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, sought clarification on whether there will be votes for only 144 earlier wards and nominated persons would be appointed for the remaining 65 wards.
However, the State Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul ruled out the possibility of appointing nominating persons for any ward.
She also said that the Bills do not have provisions for ward-wise nominated persons.
On Wednesday, the Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari spoke in the state Assembly regarding the two Bills.
He said that the Bills only promise to increase the number of wards.
“After this, the process of determining the ward boundaries, ward population, number of voters and other issues will begin. The West Bengal Election Commission will give the responsibility in this regard to the Land Department and the officials in charge of the Kolkata district administration. After that, a notification will be issued. If there are any objections from the common people, it will be heard. The State Election Commission will also have to hold two all-party meetings on this count,” the Chief Minister added.
–IANS
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