BJP's Sukanta Majumdar: Only winnable candidates get KMC poll tickets
Synopsis
BJP's Kolkata in-charge Sukanta Majumdar has drawn a hard line ahead of the KMC polls: seniority counts for nothing, winnability counts for everything. With 209 wards post-delimitation and a 105-seat majority threshold, the BJP is recalibrating its Bengal urban strategy — and signalling that even veteran party workers are not guaranteed a ticket.
Key Takeaways
Sukanta Majumdar , BJP's Kolkata Municipal Corporation election in-charge, said on 30 August that only candidates with the ability to win will receive party tickets.
Ticket selection will be based on popularity, identity, and local activities — not party seniority or organisational roles.
The KMC and Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC) polls are scheduled after Durga Puja in October .
Rahul Sinha , Rajya Sabha MP and former state BJP president, has been named election in-charge for Howrah .
Post-delimitation, the KMC will have 209 wards ; the BJP needs 105 seats to secure a majority.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar on Sunday, 30 August made clear that the party's ticket distribution for the upcoming Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) elections will be guided by a single criterion — the ability to win. Speaking to reporters in Kolkata, Majumdar, who has been appointed the party's city in-charge for the civic polls, said winnability will override seniority or organisational standing.
What Majumdar Said
'Only those who can win the polls will get tickets. In that case, their popularity, identity and activities will be examined,' Majumdar told reporters. He elaborated further: 'How long someone has been associated with the party, who is organisationally skilled — those are not considered here. That is considered in the case of any position in the organisation. The only thing that will be considered for the election is who can win.'
On whether newcomers to the BJP could become candidates, Majumdar was measured: 'Those decisions have not been taken. And who are new to the BJP? The BJP has not made anyone join them. If someone considers himself a BJP leader now, then there is nothing to be done.'
Election Structure and In-Charges
The BJP has appointed dedicated election in-charges for both Kolkata and Howrah ahead of the civic body polls, which are scheduled after Durga Puja in October. While Sukanta Majumdar leads preparations for the KMC, Rajya Sabha MP and former state BJP president Rahul Sinha has been named in-charge for the Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC). Both in-charges have reportedly ramped up ground-level activity, with frequent meetings, public outreach drives, and party gatherings already under way.
The Numbers the BJP Must Hit
Following delimitation, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation is set to have 209 wards. To secure a majority and wrest control of the civic body, the BJP would need to win at least 105 seats — a formidable target in a city where the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) has dominated local governance for over a decade.
Context and What Is at Stake
The KMC and HMC polls represent one of the BJP's most significant electoral tests in West Bengal outside the state assembly cycle. The party made significant inroads in the 2021 Lok Sabha elections in the state but has struggled to translate that performance into urban local-body wins. A strong showing in Kolkata and Howrah would signal renewed urban momentum ahead of the next assembly election cycle. This comes amid continued organisational churn within the Bengal BJP, making the in-charge appointments and candidate selection strategy especially consequential. The party's open acknowledgement that even long-standing members will not be guaranteed tickets reflects a results-first recalibration of its Bengal strategy.
Point of View
And that the party cannot afford to reward loyalty at the cost of electability. The more telling line was his response on newcomers: deflective rather than dismissive, leaving the door open for turncoats from the TMC without saying so explicitly. In a city where the TMC's grassroots machinery remains formidable, the BJP's real problem is not ticket criteria but ward-level organisation — something no in-charge appointment resolves overnight.
NationPress
31 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sukanta Majumdar's role in the KMC elections?
Sukanta Majumdar, Minister of State for Education, has been appointed the BJP's Kolkata in-charge for the upcoming Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections. He is overseeing candidate selection and election preparations for the party in the city.
When are the Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections scheduled?
The KMC and Howrah Municipal Corporation elections are scheduled to be held after Durga Puja, which falls in October. A precise date has not been announced yet.
How many seats does the BJP need to win the KMC?
Following delimitation, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation will have 209 wards. The BJP needs to win at least 105 seats to secure a majority and control the civic body.
Who is the BJP's in-charge for the Howrah Municipal Corporation polls?
Rajya Sabha MP and former West Bengal BJP president Rahul Sinha has been appointed the party's election in-charge for the Howrah Municipal Corporation.
Will BJP give tickets to new members or those who recently joined the party?
Majumdar said no decision has been taken on new members as candidates, adding that the BJP has not actively recruited anyone. His comments left the question of turncoat candidates deliberately open-ended.
