The Election Commission of India is set to unveil a list of private housing complexes in West Bengal where temporary polling booths will be established for the upcoming Assembly elections. A total of 78 housing complexes with multiple towers have been identified for this purpose, with the list scheduled for release on February 25, as per sources from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer.
The West Bengal government and the ruling Trinamool Congress have expressed opposition to the idea of setting up polling booths in housing complexes. They argue that accommodating Central Armed Police Forces personnel in these complexes could inconvenience residents. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also raised objections to this proposal in a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner.
Despite objections, the Election Commission advocates for setting up polling booths in housing complexes to ease the voting process for residents, particularly senior citizens. This move aims to reduce the need for voters to travel long distances to reach polling stations. The Commission recently announced a revised schedule for the Special Intensive Revision in West Bengal, with the final voters’ list expected to be published on February 28 after the completion of claims and objections sessions on February 21.
A full Bench of the Election Commission is scheduled to visit West Bengal on March 1 for a two-day assessment of the post-SIR situation in the state. Subsequently, the Commission is anticipated to announce the polling dates for the upcoming Assembly elections later this year.
