Suvendu Adhikari visited the KMC office, announcing a major delimitation process to address ward voter disparities. He also launched a five-day cleanliness drive in Kolkata to prepare for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) office for the first time since assuming office. The West Bengal CM, on Monday, placed flowers on the chair of former Mayor of Kolkata Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and paid his respects at the seat where Bose used to sit during his tenure. The chair and table used by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose from August 1930 to April 1931 as Mayor are displayed at the main entrance of the KMC central building at Mayor's Gate.
KMC Delimitation Proposed
Suvendu Adhikari also announced a major move to overhaul the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) through a comprehensive delimitation process, stating that it is "required". Citing massive disparities in ward demographics, the Chief Minister underscored that the current structure--where some wards hold over 50,000 voters while others maintain as few as 8,000--is unsustainable for effective urban governance.
Addressing the media, Adhikari said, "During the election campaign, I went from door to door. I saw the ward composition: 40,000-50,000 votes in one ward, while 8,000-12,000 votes in the other, 15-18 booths in one ward, while 50 booths in the other. So, delimitation of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation is required."
Process and Authority
The Chief Minister clarified the procedural path forward, noting that while his government's Department of Urban Development and Municipal Affairs (UDMA) will submit the necessary recommendations, the final delimitation process rests with the State Election Commission. "The State Govt's Department of Urban Development & Municipal Affairs will recommend the delimitation. But the delimitation will be done by the State Election Commission. Proposal sent by the state govt through the UDMA Dept, and the delimitation process will be started by the state election commission through the system," he added.
Civic Initiatives for PM Modi's Visit
Adhikari also announced a series of civic initiatives to commemorate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Kolkata. The state government is organising a five-day special drive to enhance the city's cleanliness and overall preparedness.
KMC Municipal Commissioner Smita Pandey said it is extremely fortunate that CM Suvendu Adhikari chose their office to launch the citywide cleanliness campaign and emphasised that everyone's cooperation is needed so that Kolkata looks beautiful and clean when the Prime Minister arrives. "It is our great fortune that the Chief Minister chose our office to launch the citywide cleanliness campaign...We need everyone's cooperation so that when the Prime Minister comes to our city, we ensure that Kolkata looks very beautiful and clean...We've requested everyone to contribute to this cleanliness drive...The Prime Minister is coming to our city on the occasion of International Yoga Day, which is going to be celebrated on a global level, so I seek your cooperation so that we can make our city even more beautiful...," she said.
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