West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari will visit the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) headquarters in central Kolkata on Monday, 16 June 2025, to formally launch a six-day citywide cleanliness drive titled 'Welcome to Cleanliness'. The initiative will span all 144 wards of the city and run through 20 June 2025, timed to precede Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kolkata for World Yoga Day on 21 June.

A Historic Visit to KMC's Municipal Hall

This will mark the first time Suvendu Adhikari attends an official programme at the Kolkata Municipal Hall as Chief Minister — and reportedly the first such visit by any Chief Minister to the civic body's headquarters for a government programme in recent memory. Preparations at the municipal administration have been underway since Saturday evening, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) municipal representatives led by MLA and councillor Sajal Ghosh set to receive Adhikari at the venue.

Why the Drive Is Being Launched Now

The cleanliness campaign is directly linked to Prime Minister Modi's planned appearance on Red Road, Kolkata, for the main World Yoga Day event on 21 June. With the entire city expected to participate in the day's activities, the KMC has initiated the drive to ensure Kolkata presents its best face ahead of the high-profile national event. The drive will cover all corners of the city and its surrounding areas over the six-day window.

Political Context: KMC Under Administrator Rule

The launch comes at a significant moment for the civic body. Former Minister Firhad Hakim recently resigned as Mayor of Kolkata, following which an administrator was appointed to oversee the KMC's functioning. Adhikari's visit to the Municipal Hall is therefore seen as a political and administrative signal — the state government asserting its engagement with Kolkata's civic governance at a time when the corporation is operating without an elected mayor.

State-Wide Cleanliness Push Already Underway

The Kolkata drive is part of a broader cleanliness push across West Bengal. State Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul has already launched a dedicated mobile application to monitor and coordinate the cleanliness drive across the state. The app is intended to bring transparency and real-time tracking to civic sanitation efforts beyond just the capital.

What Happens After the Drive

The six-day campaign concludes on 20 June, the day before World Yoga Day. With PM Modi's programme on Red Road drawing national attention to Kolkata, the KMC's performance over these six days will likely be closely watched. Whether this drive translates into a sustained urban cleanliness framework — or remains a one-time event tied to a VIP visit — will be the longer-term test for the civic administration.