Kolkata

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari hit out at opposition MLAs Firhad Hakim and Javed Khan during Wednesday's special session at the state Assembly over the reorganisation of wards in the Kolkata and Howrah municipal corporations, saying their arguments reflected a lack of clarity about the delimitation process.

Taking a dig at former Urban Development Minister and Kolkata Mayor Hakim, the CM said the legislation passed by the Assembly only dealt with increasing the number of wards and that the actual delimitation would be undertaken subsequently by the State Election Commission (SEC).

"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. After this, the State Election Commission will determine the boundaries of the wards, the number of voters, population and other details," Adhikari said.

Hakim, however, said he was not opposed to ward reorganisation in principle but wanted the government to make the criteria and process transparent.

He argued that elected representatives should have been involved in the exercise so that the interests of residents could be taken into account.

"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," Hakim said.

"Elected representatives should also have been involved here. That would have benefited the common people," the rebel-TMC MLA said.

Questioning the proposed creation of 65 additional wards in Kolkata, Hakim also sought clarity on whether the boundaries were being altered with any particular community in mind.

"It should also be made clear whether the boundaries of the new wards are being altered by targeting any particular community," he said.

Hakim also suggested that residents should be allowed to submit representations before the boundaries are finalised and advocated hearings for individual wards.

Khan said Kolkata's present population justified more than 209 wards. He further cautioned the government against using the delimitation exercise for any narrow political purpose.

The debate also saw BJP MLA Sajal Ghosh target Hakim over the functioning of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, including its vacant posts.

Ghosh demanded that around 30,000 vacancies in the civic body be filled.

"You do not have to tell me what I can or cannot say," Hakim retorted during a heated exchange with BJP MLA Jitendra Tiwari over allegations concerning contractors.

The Assembly passed the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Howrah Municipal Corporation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2026 during Wednesday's special session.

The two bills amend the respective municipal laws to increase the number of elected representatives in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation from 144 to 209 and in the Howrah Municipal Corporation from 50 to 68.

The CM said the increase in ward numbers would be followed by the delimitation exercise.

He said the Land and Land Reforms Department and officials responsible for the administration of Kolkata district would be involved in the process before a draft notification is issued.

The public would be given at least seven days to file objections and representations against the draft, although the period could be extended to 15 days, Adhikari said.

He also said the State Election Commission would convene two all-party meetings during the process -- one before publication of the first draft and another before the final notification.

Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul, who introduced the bills, defended the government's decision to increase the number of wards, saying the move was aimed at improving civic services.

Paul also attacked the previous Trinamool Congress government, alleging that civic elections in Howrah had been delayed because the former ruling party feared losing them.

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The proposed ward reorganisation is expected to pave the way for the next civic elections in Kolkata and Howrah, with the government maintaining that the exercise would improve civic administration and ensure better delivery of basic services to residents.