Archive · 25 Sep 2026
West Bengal Civic Polls Likely in Late November
West Bengal may hold elections for seven city and town governments in late November.
Kolkata and Howrah are among the places where people may vote.
Officials say voting could happen from November 27 to 29, or specifically on November 28 or 29.
The election notice may be published around October 27 or 28, after Durga Puja.
Voting would take place at 6,301 booths.
Officials are preparing voting materials and electronic voting machines.
Results may be announced on December 2.
Another source says the entire election process must be completed by December 7.
Fifteen urban bodies in the state currently have administrators instead of elected municipal boards.
Elections for seven West Bengal urban civic bodies are likely between November 27 and 29.
The Kolkata and Howrah municipal corporations are among the bodies scheduled for voting.
The West Bengal State Election Commission expects notifications around October 27 or 28, after Durga Puja.
Voting is planned at 6,301 booths, with electronic voting machines being sent to districts.
Sources differ on the completion schedule: results are tentatively expected December 2, while the full process must finish by December 7.
- Who
- The West Bengal State Election Commission, led by State Election Commissioner Krishna Gupta, is preparing the elections.
- What
- Elections are planned for seven urban civic bodies, including the Kolkata and Howrah municipal corporations.
- When
- Notifications may come on October 27 or 28; polling is likely between November 27 and 29, with results tentatively due December 2.
- Where
- The bodies are in Kolkata, Howrah, East Midnapore, Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts.
- Why
- The elections are intended to establish elected municipal boards in bodies currently run by administrators.
Trinamool Congress perspective
Bharatiya Janata Party perspective
Election strategy and significance
Trinamool Congress perspective
Trinamool Congress leader Baiswanor Chattopadhyay said the party would decide its strategy after the formal notification and would expect authorities to follow the rules strictly.
Bharatiya Janata Party perspective
Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Debjit Sarkar described the municipal elections as a step toward acceptable governance standards.
- Civic bodies involved
- Seven: Kolkata, Howrah, Bally, Haldia, Dhupguri, Kalimpong and Kurseong
- Possible notification dates
- October 27 or 28, after the Durga Puja holidays
- Likely polling window
- November 27 to 29; another source specifies November 28 or 29
- Polling booths
- 6,301
- Tentative result date
- December 2
- Overall completion deadline
- December 7, according to administrative sources
- Bodies without elected boards
- 15 urban civic bodies across 12 districts
- Howrah election history
- The last election was held in 2013, and the board's term ended in 2018
