The Chief Electoral Officer’s office in West Bengal is advocating for a single-phase poll for the upcoming state Assembly elections. The recommendation, soon to be forwarded to the Election Commission of India, emphasizes the necessity of ensuring fair and transparent elections in West Bengal.
One of the key reasons supporting a single-phase election is Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s criticism of the 2021 Assembly elections being conducted in eight phases amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Banerjee questioned the need for multiple phases in West Bengal, which has 294 constituencies, when Tamil Nadu managed a single-phase election with 234 constituencies.
Insiders from the CEO’s office highlighted that a single-phase poll would prevent the mobilization of supporters across different areas by political parties, addressing concerns of outsider influence on polling day. However, such an election would require a significant deployment of Central Armed Police Forces, particularly on polling day.
