West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer, Manoj Agarwal, is scheduled to hold crucial meetings in the national capital on Monday. He will confer with top officials from the Election Commission of India and the Union Home Ministry. The central agenda is to finalize the deployment strategy for central armed police forces during the forthcoming state assembly elections.
Security Takes Top Priority for April Polls
With the elections in West Bengal likely to be scheduled for April, the Election Commission is placing the highest emphasis on ensuring the safety and security of voters at polling booths. An official familiar with the discussions stated that the EC aims to deploy central forces at all booths to uphold the integrity and sanctity of the electoral process. This move is seen as a critical measure to conduct free and fair elections.
The scale of deployment is under careful consideration. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, approximately 1,000 companies of central forces were stationed across Bengal. However, the upcoming plan must account for simultaneous elections in other states and union territories. The EC officials will make a final decision on the number of forces, keeping in mind that assembly polls are also slated for Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry.
Learning from Past Incidents and Building Confidence
A significant factor influencing the security planning is the memory of a tragic incident during the 2021 Bengal assembly polls. Resentment had spread after a CISF soldier opened fire, resulting in the death of four voters. This event has made the commission extra cautious about the conduct and deployment of central forces.
As a confidence-building measure for the electorate, the official indicated that route marches by central forces would be conducted well in advance of the polling dates. The detailed planning for these marches, intended to project a sense of security and deterrence, will be part of the discussions in Monday's meeting.
EC Acts Against Procedural Lapse in Naxalbari
In a related development showcasing the commission's vigilance, the EC has issued a show-cause notice to a booth-level officer in the Kharibari area of Naxalbari. The officer is under scrutiny for allegedly summoning an excessive number of voters for a poll-related procedure. While the EC's assessment found that summoning 40 voters would have been sufficient, the official had called 169 individuals. This action underscores the EC's focus on streamlining processes and preventing unnecessary public inconvenience.
The meetings in Delhi mark a pivotal step in the electoral preparations for West Bengal. The decisions taken will shape the security landscape for what is expected to be a closely watched and high-stakes election in the state.
