BJP to contest all 209 wards in Kolkata civic poll, open to fielding eminent citizens, youths

Kolkata: Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar on Sunday said the BJP will contest all 209 wards in the upcoming Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections and is open to fielding professionals and prominent personalities with a focus on the youth.

Addressing a press conference here, he said candidates would be chosen through an internal process, and that winning probability, public image and acceptability in local areas would be the key criteria.

Majumdar, the BJP in-charge for the civic polls, said the party wanted a transparent KMC where "promoter raj" would end, with the state government and the civic body working in coordination.


Heritage properties and places would retain their identity, while modern transport, planned urbanisation, pollution control and environmental conservation would be central to civic infrastructure, he said.

The former state BJP chief accused the Left Front and the Trinamool Congress of ruining the city's economy and job opportunities and causing waterlogging and a lack of accountability.

He said the party did not want to waste time on past failures and would focus on rebuilding the city.

"Everyone in society is not a party worker, but there are many eminent people like doctors, engineers and advocates. We urge them not to stand at a distance and clap from the gallery. The BJP is allowing you to fight as candidates," Majumdar said.

On the selection method, he said it was an internal organisational matter. The party would finalise names after consulting the state leadership and the chief minister, he said.

"This is not merely a political election. It is an important opportunity for Kolkata residents to decide the direction of the city's development," he said.

The former state BJP chief said there will be a drop box at the party's central election office at 6 Muralidhar Sen Lane in central Kolkata to facilitate aspirants to submit applications for the civic body polls.

Majumdar said the BJP would not let youth remain mere spectators or voters.

The party would hold ward-level discussions with them and students on startups, skill development, sports and public transport, as they would be a main driving force of a "new Kolkata", he said.

Citing the performance of the BJP government, he said unnecessary restrictions on business had been removed, and the syndicate culture had been stopped.

The BJP leader urged people to inform the government if it still existed anywhere.

He claimed initiatives such as Annapurna Bhandar and the inclusion of Ayushman Bharat had increased public support for the government and the chief minister.

Majumdar said the poll date had not been finalised and the party hoped the State Election Commission would announce it soon.

The BJP would reach out to every ward, understand local problems and present a clear roadmap to resolve them, he added.