**Executive Summary**
The Election Commission of India (ECI) conducted a comprehensive review of poll preparedness for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly Elections. This review involved interactions with political parties and enforcement agencies. Key deadlines are implied by the ongoing election preparations. The ECI emphasized impartiality, zero tolerance for violence, and ensuring a free and fair electoral process.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Review Conducted:**
* Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, reviewed poll preparedness for the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Elections.
* The review took place in Kolkata.
* **Political Party Engagement:**
* The Commission met with representatives of recognized national and state political parties.
* Parties appreciated the Special Summary Revision (SIR) exercise and expressed faith in the ECI.
* Concerns were raised regarding voter aggression, intimidation, use of crude bombs, illegal firearms, money, and muscle power.
* Political parties urged the ECI to conduct elections in one or two phases.
* Parties assured cooperation in ensuring peaceful polls.
* **ECI Assurances and Directives:**
* The CEC assured that elections will be conducted impartially, transparently, and fairly, as per law.
* The ECI declared zero tolerance for violence and intimidation of electors or election staff.
* The SIR objective is to ensure accurate electoral rolls, with forms for inclusions/deletions/changes still being accepted.
* The Commission held a detailed review with Heads/Nodal Officers of Enforcement Agencies on various election aspects.
* Enforcement agencies were directed to act impartially and clamp down on inducement-related activities.
* District Election Officers (DEOs) were directed to ensure Assured Minimum Facilities (AMFs) like ramps, wheelchairs, and drinking water at all polling stations.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Political Parties**
* **Impact:** Their concerns regarding election conduct and voter safety have been heard and addressed by the ECI. They have also provided assurances of cooperation.
* **Action Required:** Continue to engage with the ECI and cooperate in ensuring a peaceful and fair election process.
* **Enforcement Agencies (IGs, DIGs, Divisional Commissioners, Commissioners of Police, DEOs, SSPs/SPs)**
* **Impact:** They are directly involved in implementing election security, logistics, and ensuring compliance with electoral laws and the ECI's directives.
* **Action Required:** Act with complete impartiality, firmly clamp down on inducement-related activities, and ensure the provision of Assured Minimum Facilities at polling stations.
* **Electors / Voters**
* **Impact:** The ECI's focus on security, fairness, and improved polling station facilities aims to ensure a safe and accessible voting experience.
* **Action Required:** Remain informed about the election process, and utilize available forms for electoral roll corrections if necessary.
Key Entities Referenced
Election Commission: The primary body responsible for conducting elections and reviewing poll preparedness.
West Bengal Legislative Assembly Elections: The specific elections for which poll preparedness is being reviewed, defining the scope of the policy's application.
Shri Gyanesh Kumar: Chief Election Commissioner, a key individual leading the review and making pronouncements on policy.
Central Armed Police Force (CAPF): A resource to be deployed during elections, highlighting a key operational aspect and impact of the policy.
West Bengal: The specific location central to the applicability of the policy and the elections being discussed.
Election Commission
ECI reviews poll preparedness for forthcoming
Assembly Elections in West Bengal
Posted On: 09 MAR 2026 6:44PM by PIB Delhi
1. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Shri Gyanesh Kumar along with Election
Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi held a detailed and
comprehensive review of the poll preparedness for the forthcoming West Bengal Legislative
Assembly Elections in Kolkata today.
2. During the review visit, the Commission interacted with the representatives of recognized
national political parties namely Aam Aadmi Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party
of India (Marxist), Indian National Congress, and National People’s Party and the recognised
state political parties, namely, All India Forward Bloc and the All India Trinamool Congress
and sought their suggestions.
3. Most political parties appreciated the massive SIR exercise being carried out by ECI in the
state of West Bengal and also reposed their complete faith and trust in ECI.
4. Political parties urged the Commission to take stringent measures to curb ensure that there are
no acts of aggression or intimidation of voters during the forthcoming elections. They called
upon the ECI to ensure a peaceful, free & fair elections.
5. They called upon ECI to provide protection to each voter and deploy CAPF in large numbers
to curb violence during elections. The parties raised their concerns about the possibility of use
of crude bombs, illegal firearms, money and muscle power by certain parties.
6. Political parties urged the Commission to conduct the elections in one or two phases.
7. CEC Shri Gyanesh Kumar assured the political parties that elections in India are held as per
Law and ECI will not leave any stone unturned in ensuring an impartial, transparent and a
free and fair poll in West Bengal.
8. CEC Gyanesh Kumar said that ECI will have Zero tolerance towards violence and
intimidation of either electors or election staff.
9. The political parties assured the Commission that they will fully cooperate in ensuring that
the polls in West Bengal are free of violence.
10. CEC Shri Gyanesh Kumar reiterated that SIR has been conducted in the most transparent
manner. He said that the objective of SIR is to ensure that no eligible elector is left out while
no ineligible person is included in the Electoral Rolls. He added that Forms 6/7/8 can still be
filed for any inclusions/deletions/changes.
11. Later, the Commission held a detailed review with the Heads/Nodal Officers of Enforcement
Agencies, IGs, DIGs, Divisional Commissioners, Commissioners of Police, DEOs and
SSPs/SPs on every aspect of election planning, EVM management, logistics, training of
election staff, seizures, law and order, voter awareness and outreach activities.
12. The Commission directed all Heads/Nodal Officers of Enforcement Agencies to act with
complete impartiality and firmly clamp down on all inducement related activities.13. The Commission also directed all DEOs to ensure that Assured Minimum Facilities (AMFs),
including ramps, wheelchairs and drinking water, are made available at all polling stations for
the comfort of voters.
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PK/GDH/RP
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