3 weeks ago
Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari attacks Hakim, Javed over delimitation
In a part of India called West Bengal, there are two big cities named Kolkata and Howrah.
The state's leader, Suvendu Adhikari, wants to make more voting areas, called wards, in these cities.
He had a big argument about this with two other leaders, Firhad Hakim and Javed Khan.
Hakim said he is not against making new wards, but he wants the government to explain how it picks the areas.
He also said local elected leaders and residents should get to share their ideas.
Javed Khan warned that the changes should not be used to play unfair politics.
Mr. Adhikari said an important commission called the State Election Commission will draw the new ward lines later.
People will get at least seven days to say what they think about the plan.
A minister, Agnimitra Paul, said more wards will help the cities give better services to people.
When everything is done, new city elections can be held in Kolkata and Howrah.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari attacked opposition MLAs Firhad Hakim and Javed Khan during Wednesday's special Assembly session over ward reorganisation in the Kolkata and Howrah municipal corporations.
The Assembly passed the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Howrah Municipal Corporation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2026, increasing elected representatives from 144 to 209 in Kolkata and from 50 to 68 in Howrah.
Adhikari said the bills only increase ward numbers and that the State Election Commission (SEC) will determine boundaries, voter numbers, population and other details, with at least seven days (extendable to 15) for public objections.
Hakim said he supports ward reorganisation in principle but demanded transparent criteria, involvement of elected representatives, and clarity on whether boundaries target any particular community; Khan cautioned against narrow political purposes.
BJP MLA Sajal Ghosh demanded that around 30,000 vacancies in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation be filled, while minister Agnimitra Paul defended the bills as improving civic services and accused the previous Trinamool Congress government of delaying Howrah civic elections.
- Who
- West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, opposition MLAs Firhad Hakim and Javed Khan, Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul, and BJP MLA Sajal Ghosh
- What
- A special session of the West Bengal Assembly that passed bills increasing the number of wards in the Kolkata and Howrah municipal corporations, to be followed by a delimitation exercise by the State Election Commission
- Where
- West Bengal Assembly, Kolkata
- When
- Wednesday's special session of the West Bengal Assembly, reported on August 12, 2026
- Why
- The government says more wards will improve civic administration and delivery of basic services and pave the way for civic elections, while critics demand transparency over the criteria, process and motives
Opposition MLAs
State Government
Transparency of delimitation process
Opposition MLAs
Firhad Hakim says he is not opposed to ward reorganisation in principle but the government must make clear the policy or criteria on which the entire process is being carried out.
State Government
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari says the bills only increase the number of wards and that the State Election Commission will determine boundaries, voters, population and other details.
Role of elected representatives
Opposition MLAs
Hakim argues elected representatives should have been involved so that residents' interests are taken into account, and residents should be allowed to submit representations before boundaries are finalised, with hearings for individual wards.
State Government
The government says the public will get at least seven days (extendable to 15) to file objections and the SEC will hold two all-party meetings before the draft and final notifications.
Motive behind ward reorganisation
Opposition MLAs
Hakim questions whether new boundaries are being altered to target any particular community, and Javed Khan cautions against using the delimitation exercise for any narrow political purpose.
State Government
Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul says the move aims to improve civic services and alleges the previous Trinamool Congress government delayed Howrah civic elections because it feared losing them.
Key facts
- Bills passed
- Kolkata Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2026; Howrah Municipal Corporation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2026
- Kolkata wards
- Increased from 144 to 209 (65 additional wards)
- Howrah wards
- Increased from 50 to 68
- Delimitation authority
- State Election Commission (SEC)
- Draft notification input
- Land and Land Reforms Department and Kolkata district administration officials
- Public objection window
- At least 7 days, extendable to 15 days
- All-party meetings
- Two, convened by SEC before the draft and final notifications
- KMC vacancies cited
- Around 30,000
Quotes
Suvendu Adhikari
West Bengal Chief Minister
“"From what you (Hakim and Khan) said about delimitation, it appears that your understanding is not clear. The bill introduced today is for increasing the number of wards."”
theprint.in
telegraphindia.com
“"I am not opposing the reorganisation of wards in principle. But it should be made clear on what policy or criteria the entire process is being carried out."”
theprint.in
Sources
Related news
Bengal Ward Expansion Bills for KMC, HMC Due Aug 12
Bengal Assembly passes bills increasing Kolkata, Howrah civic wards
West Bengal Publishes Draft for 209 Kolkata Municipal Wards
Bengal Assembly to Take Up Kolkata Ward Amendment Bill Wednesday
Opposition parties challenge Calcutta ward delimitation based on voter counts
Opposition Seeks More Time, Digital Maps After Kolkata Ward Meeting
Bengal BJP Chief Warns Action Over Name Misuse For Extortion
