A former Howrah Municipal Corporation official has approached the Calcutta High Court to challenge the recent ward delimitation process, raising concerns over delayed civic elections and the proposed appointment of ward-level coordinators.

A former Howrah Municipal Corporation official has approached the Calcutta High Court to challenge the recent ward delimitation process, raising concerns over delayed civic elections and the proposed appointment of ward-level coordinators.

A former Howrah Municipal Corporation official has approached the Calcutta High Court to challenge the recent ward delimitation process, raising concerns over delayed civic elections and the proposed appointment of ward-level coordinators.

Howrah Municipal Corporation’s former Mayor-in-Council approached the Calcutta High Court on Friday over the delimitation of Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC). Elections have not taken place since 2013.

Imtiaz Ahmed, a former CPIM candidate from the Howrah Madhya assembly constituency in the 2026 assembly elections, questioned the increase in the number of wards from 50 to 68. He argued that the delimitation did not adhere to the HMC Act, 1980.

Ahmed, who is also a lawyer, moved the HC days after it stayed the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) election process until the delimitation hearing was completed in court.

The state administration has proposed increasing the number of wards in KMC to 209 from 144. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the state will approach the Supreme Court (SC) with a Special Leave Petition (SLP) over the KMC issue.

“Those who are likely to lose their security deposits in the elections are the ones obstructing the election process,” said Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday.

Adhikari talked about appointing ward-level coordinators in KMC and HMC from December 1st if elections do not take place.

“We will appoint only those ward-level coordinators who stand by it and do not oppose it,” he said. The ward coordinators are to be appointed for better efficiency.

Ward-level coordinators were proposed by the government after the HC stayed the civic polls for KMC until the delimitation issue is resolved.

Ahmed addressed the court about the HMC issue, pointing out that administrators have run the civic body since 2018. He questioned why ward-level coordinators should run the civic body now instead of elected councillors. The matter is slated to be heard next Thursday.

“There has been no decision by the party on who will be coordinators. Howrah Municipal Corporation has had no elected representatives or councillors since 2013. Those who are sidelined by people and want to win are approaching the high court. They are trying to cover up their defeat. They have not approached the court for the people,” said BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya.

The delimitation of wards has been questioned by opposition parties like the Mamata faction of TMC and CPIM.

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