Kolkata, April 16: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a directive to install temporary bamboo fencing around open polling stations lacking proper boundaries. This measure aims to prevent unauthorized access.
An insider from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal revealed that during inspections, ECI representatives identified several polling stations located in open school buildings without adequate fencing. This situation allows unauthorized individuals easy access to polling areas, evading the oversight of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel present.
The insider stated, “Some open polling stations situated in remote forest areas are surrounded by dense woods or bushes, making them more vulnerable from a security perspective. Considering these factors, the Commission has decided to erect bamboo fencing around such polling stations.”
Additional security personnel will be deployed at these stations to ensure that unauthorized individuals cannot enter the polling premises by climbing over the bamboo fencing.
This time, the Commission has also instructed Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to distribute voter slips door-to-door, similar to the recent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise conducted during the census phase in the state.
The Commission has issued a stern warning to BLOs that they must not delegate the task of distributing voter slips to representatives of any political party under any circumstances.
Ahead of the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, scheduled for April 23, the Chief Election Commissioner has provided strict guidelines to sector officers, presiding officers, and other polling officials to maintain impartiality throughout the election process.
These officials have been instructed not to seek or accept any assistance from representatives of any polling party, including polling agents.
Election officials have also been advised to refuse any food, water, or other materials offered by representatives of political parties. Instead, they should rely solely on the arrangements made by the administration as per the Election Commission’s directives.
Voting in West Bengal will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with results to be announced on May 4.
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My name is Narendra Jijhontiya. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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