Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday hinted at a large-scale overhaul of the state's assembly constituencies, coupled with a significant increase in the number of members in the legislative assembly. This development may necessitate the construction of a new assembly building.
Adhikari's Statement in the Vidhan Sabha
Speaking in the Vidhan Sabha on Friday, Adhikari stated: "The number of assembly seats may increase once delimitation takes place. Therefore, with future planning in mind, under the speaker's leadership and with the support of the state government, we hope to make efforts towards constructing a new assembly building in the future."
These remarks are the clearest indication yet that the new government is preparing for a major political reorganization tied to the long-delayed Census and the proposed delimitation bill of 2026. The bill seeks to redraw parliamentary and assembly constituencies based on updated population figures.
Cabinet Decision on Census
Adhikari's comments follow the state cabinet's decision in its first meeting on Monday to immediately roll out the census in Bengal. This marks a sharp departure from the previous administration's stance, which had been criticized for delaying the process.
Adhikari accused the Mamata Banerjee-led government of leaving a Union home ministry communication on the census "untouched for nearly a year" after it was sent in June 2025.
Population Growth and Delimitation Impact
Bengal's population is estimated to have crossed 10.7 crore in May 2026, a steep rise from the 9.1 crore recorded in the 2011 census. These figures will directly shape constituency delimitation, administrative restructuring, and future governance planning.
The prospect of delimitation has already sparked political debate. Proponents argue that boundaries must be revised to reflect population shifts and ensure equitable representation. Opposition parties, however, fear that the exercise could redraw traditional vote-bank structures and alter electoral equations in politically sensitive regions.
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