Ahead of the final phase of West Bengal Assembly polls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has cautioned that any false voting attempts will result in severe legal consequences, including imprisonment. The state Chief Electoral Officer’s office disclosed that all polling booths will be equipped with AI-enabled CCTV cameras for effective web-casting, directly linked to control rooms in Kolkata and district offices.
Continuous monitoring from these control rooms will enable swift identification, tracking, and apprehension of individuals attempting false voting. The ECI emphasized that such actions are punishable under Section 172 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, with offenders facing up to one year of rigorous imprisonment. Maintaining the ‘one person, one vote’ principle is crucial, and any election-related complaints or suggestions can be reported directly to the Commission.
Security measures for the upcoming phase include 2,407 central forces companies alongside West Bengal Police and Kolkata personnel. Each of the 142 Assembly constituencies will have a general observer, totaling 142 observers, and an increased number of 95 police observers. Following the polling on April 23 for 152 assembly constituencies, the election results are scheduled to be announced on May 4.
