Kolkata, Sept. 27 -- Allegations of irregularities in the proposed ward delimitation of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) have now extended to the rotation of seats reserved for women, with the Congress, Left and Mamata All India Trinamool Congress (MAITC) raising objections before KMC administrator and municipal commissioner Smita Pandey.
The Opposition parties have alleged that the prescribed rules for rotating women's reserved wards have not been followed, resulting in some wards being reserved for women repeatedly while others have remained general wards for years.
The Congress and Left have cited several examples. Former Ward 9, which became new Ward 17 after delimitation, has been proposed for women's reservation in 2005, 2015, 2021 and again in 2026. Former Ward 18, now Ward 20, was reserved in 2015, 2021 and 2026. Former Ward 6, now Ward 8, was similarly reserved in 2015, 2021 and 2026. Former Ward 3, which became Ward 11, has been proposed for women's reservation in 2021 and 2026.
Congress general secretary Ashutosh Chattopadhyay alleged that the reservation pattern prescribed under municipal law was not being followed by the KMC and the urban development department.
MAITC south Kolkata president Baishwanor Chattopadhyay has also raised objections.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.