West Bengal Assembly Passes Bills Increasing Kolkata and Howrah Wards

The West Bengal Assembly passed two delimitation bills on August 12, 2026, to increase the number of civic wards in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and the Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC). The legislation increases KMC wards from 144 to 209 and HMC wards from 50 to 68.

Agnimitra Paul, the Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Minister, tabled the bills during a special session, arguing that the reorganization is necessary to address population growth and disparities. Current wards vary wildly in size, with some containing 8,000 voters and others up to 80,000; the new boundaries aim for a consistent range of 16,000 to 18,000 voters per ward to ensure equitable distribution of development funds and faster delivery of services.

The bills were passed ahead of municipal elections scheduled for November or December, following the Durga Puja and Diwali festivals. While the government framed the move as a civic necessity, political observers suggest the delimitation could benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party. Additionally, a split within the Trinamool Congress between loyalists and rebels led by Ritabrata Banerjee may lead to triangular contests in the upcoming elections.

During the same session, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced 10 crore rupees in relief for the Assam government for flood recovery, and the Assembly increased the medical allowance for elderly former MLAs from 6,000 to 10,000 rupees.