A day before the West Bengal Assembly poll results are revealed, the Election Commission has designated a significant number of counting observers to ensure a smooth process. The counting of votes for the 293 Assembly seats in the state will commence at 8 a.m. on Monday. To streamline the procedure, the Election Commission has assigned counting observers, with a detailed notification already issued.
A total of 432 counting observers have been appointed as per the Commission’s notification, specifically for the 294 seats where these observers will be stationed. Notably, the highest number of counting observers has been deployed in North 24 Parganas district, with nearly 49 observers overseeing the counting for 33 Assembly constituencies. Similarly, South 24 Parganas will have 45 observers for 31 seats, Murshidabad 33 for 22 seats, and Kolkata 12 for 11 seats, with observers allocated across all districts.
In contrast, the least number of observers, six in total, has been designated for Alipurduar district to monitor the counting for five seats. The observers’ primary role, as outlined by the Commission, is to offer support during the counting process and ensure a peaceful conduct throughout. Additionally, police observers, numbering around 77, have been appointed to maintain security and law and order outside the 77 counting centers statewide. However, they are restricted from entering the counting rooms on the day.
Moreover, the Commission has specified that only individuals possessing ID cards with QR codes will be granted access to the counting centers, with mobile phones explicitly prohibited inside. On the eve of the counting day, Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) G.P. Singh visited a counting center to assess security and law and order arrangements, aiming to enhance coordination with election officials, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and state police for a peaceful and transparent counting process.
