West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Thursday, November 12, 2026, that the state government will appoint ward coordinators for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC) if the Supreme Court fails to lift the stay on civic polls. Addressing a gathering in Howrah District, the Chief Minister accused opposition parties of obstructing the electoral process, claiming that residents have been deprived of elected civic representation and proper municipal services for years. He remarked that those likely to lose their security deposits in the elections are the ones responsible for the obstruction.
The Calcutta High Court had restrained the West Bengal State Election Commission on October 6, 2026, from issuing notifications for upcoming KMC elections based on newly redrawn wards, pending the decision on a petition challenging the delimitation exercise. In response, the state government intends to approach the Supreme Court with a Special Leave Petition (SLP) seeking to have the stay lifted. Sources indicate that BJP leaders are likely to be appointed as coordinators across both civic bodies if elections are not held in time.
The Chief Minister emphasized that administrative officials have limitations and cannot provide civic facilities indefinitely. He noted that HMC elections have not been held since 2013, meaning officials have managed services for nearly a decade. Additionally, the Trinamool Congress-led board at KMC was dissolved weeks after the BJP government took power, leading to the resignation of Mayor Firhad Hakim and other councillors, after which an administrator was appointed to run the state's largest civic body.
