Kolkatta: The State Election Commission approved the West Bengal government's proposal to hold elections for the municipal corporations of Kolkata and Howrah on December 19, according to a senior official. The Bharatiya Janata party has hired lawyers to file a petition with the Calcutta High Court, asking for directions to hold elections in all municipal corporations and municipalities in West Bengal at the same time.

Elections to over 100 civic bodies, including the municipal corporations of Kolkata and Howrah, have been long overdue, owing to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Administrators appointed by the state government are in charge of these civic bodies.

On December 19, polling will be held in 144 wards of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and 50 wards of the Howrah Municipal Corporations, according to an Election Commission official. On November 25, a notice to this effect is likely to be issued. The Commission is expected to hold an all-party meeting on November 20 and a meeting with the administration and police shortly after the notification is issued, according to the official.

Two MLAs join BJP ahead of polls as Congress suffers major setback in Manipur

Bye-election results create ruckus in Bihar politics

Dilip Ghosh explained why BJP lost