The West Bengal Legislative Assembly is holding a special one-day session on Wednesday, 12 August to pass two separate Amendment Bills that would redraw ward boundaries and increase the total number of wards in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and the Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC) ahead of civic polls expected later this year.

What the Bills Propose

Under the proposed amendments, the number of wards in the KMC will rise from the current 144 to 209 — an increase of 65 wards. The HMC will see its ward count grow from 50 to 68. The delimitation exercise will involve merging smaller wards and bifurcating larger ones, with the geographic area covered under existing wards adjusted accordingly.

Both bills will be tabled, debated, and voted upon within the single session. Legislators from both the ruling party and opposition benches are expected to participate in the floor discussion. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is also scheduled to speak on the bills.

Why the Session Was Called

Municipal corporation elections for both Kolkata and Howrah are scheduled for the end of 2025, most likely after the festive season concluding with Diwali in November. The new state government has prioritised completing ward delimitation before those polls are announced.

Shortly after assuming office as Chief Minister in May this year, Adhikari had publicly committed to reorganising the ward structures of both corporations before the civic body elections. Last month, the West Bengal Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Department announced the formation of two high-power committees specifically tasked with overseeing the KMC delimitation process.

Background: KMC's Historical Significance

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation is the oldest and most storied civic body in West Bengal, with a legacy that includes Subhas Chandra Bose, Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, and Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy — all of whom served as Mayor during the pre-independence era. The corporation has operated with 144 wards for years; the proposed expansion to 209 would be one of its most significant structural changes in recent memory.

According to the Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Department, the delimitation is intended to ensure more equitable distribution of civic services, with ward sizes rationalised to reflect population density and administrative capacity.

What Happens Next

If the bills are passed in Wednesday's session — which is widely expected given the ruling party's majority — the delimitation committees will move to implement the new ward maps. The revised ward structure will then form the basis for voter rolls and candidate eligibility ahead of the municipal polls. The timeline for elections will ultimately depend on the State Election Commission, which is expected to announce dates after the festive season ends.