Kolkata, March 9: The Election Commission of India has reviewed preparations for the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, conducted a comprehensive assessment of the electoral preparations.
During the review, the commission engaged with representatives from recognized national political parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party (Marxist), Indian National Congress, and the National People’s Party, as well as state parties like the All India Forward Bloc and All India Trinamool Congress, seeking their suggestions.
Most political parties praised the extensive Special Inspection Report (SIR) conducted by the Election Commission and expressed full confidence in its efforts.
Political parties urged the commission to take stringent measures to prevent any form of aggression or intimidation against voters during the upcoming elections. They called for peaceful, free, and fair elections.
The parties requested the deployment of a significant number of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to ensure voter safety and prevent violence during the elections. Concerns were raised regarding the potential use of crude bombs, illegal weapons, money, and muscle power by certain factions.
Political parties also suggested conducting the elections in one or two phases. CEC Gyanesh Kumar assured them that elections in India are conducted according to established laws, and the Election Commission will spare no effort in ensuring fair, transparent, and independent elections in West Bengal.
Gyanesh Kumar emphasized that the commission maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards violence and threats against voters or election staff.
The political parties assured the commission of their full cooperation in keeping the elections in West Bengal free from violence.
The CEC reiterated that the SIR process has been conducted with utmost transparency, aiming to ensure that no eligible voter is left out and no ineligible individual is included in the voter list. He added that forms for adding, removing, or changing names (Forms 6/7/8) are still available for submission.
Later, the commission conducted a detailed review with heads of enforcement agencies, nodal officers, IGs, DIGs, divisional commissioners, police commissioners, DEOs, and SSP/SPs on every aspect of election planning, EVM management, logistics, training of election staff, seizures, law and order, voter awareness, and outreach activities.
The commission instructed all heads of enforcement agencies and nodal officers to act with complete impartiality and strictly curb any activities related to inducements.
Additionally, all polling officials were directed to ensure that essential facilities, including ramps, wheelchairs, and drinking water, are available at all polling stations for voter convenience.
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