As West Bengal gears up for the second phase of Assembly polls on April 29 covering 142 constituencies, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has instructed central forces to be prepared to assist intimidated voters and escort them to polling booths. Following complaints of voter intimidation during the first phase on April 23, the ECI aims to ensure a peaceful voting process by deploying central forces to aid voters in reaching polling stations securely. The focus in the upcoming phase is not only on booth-level security but also on preventing voter intimidation, particularly in the Diamond Harbour subdivision of South 24 Parganas district, known for past electoral violence incidents.
The ECI has set up measures for voters facing intimidation to seek help through a dedicated helpline or email, ensuring confidentiality of complainants. In case of complaints, central forces will be dispatched to the affected areas to escort intimidated voters to polling booths. West Bengal’s Chief Electoral Officer, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, has urged voters to cast their votes fearlessly in the second phase, emphasizing the authorities’ commitment to ensuring voter security. The upcoming polls will be conducted under tight security with 2,407 companies of central armed forces, including the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) and other armed police units from various states, along with personnel from Kolkata Police and West Bengal Police.
The polling process will be overseen by 142 general observers, one for each Assembly constituency, and 95 police observers, an increase from the previous phase. The 142 constituencies span across six districts and Kolkata, with the election results scheduled to be announced on May 4.
