To enhance voter convenience in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India has sanctioned the establishment of 4,660 auxiliary polling stations in areas with over 1,200 voters. Additionally, 321 polling stations will be relocated to enhance voter accessibility. This decision brings the total number of polling stations, including auxiliary ones, to 85,379 across the state.
The Commission, referencing a specific letter dated March 28, has given its approval to the proposals mentioned within, with certain conditions. It emphasized the need for strict adherence to the guidelines outlined in the Manual on Polling Stations, 2020, particularly concerning the establishment of auxiliary polling stations. Furthermore, the Commission mandated that all recognized political parties be duly informed in writing about these changes to ensure transparency and smooth election proceedings.
In a bid to ensure effective communication with voters, the Election Commission directed that any changes in polling station locations must be communicated individually to all voters affected by the shift. It stressed the importance of providing extensive publicity in the respective polling station areas regarding the establishment of auxiliary polling stations and the relocation of existing ones. Moreover, recognized political parties are to be formally notified of these developments.
The Election Commission is gearing up to deploy a record 2.4 lakh Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel in West Bengal for the elections. Notably, the Commission has devised a comprehensive post-poll security plan and has decided to retain 500 companies of central forces in the state even after the vote counting on May 4. Additionally, the Commission has raised concerns about the substantial deployment of police personnel by the West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police to provide personal security to Trinamool Congress leaders at various levels in the state. It has flagged potential bias in the selection of leaders for state-provided security cover, particularly highlighting the disproportionately high security enjoyed by ruling party leaders. The Commission has directed the Director General of Police to conduct a thorough professional review within the next few days to address these concerns fairly and impartially.
