Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency, Kolkata, March 9, 2026: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Shri Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi today held a detailed review of the preparations for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections in Kolkata.
As part of the visit, the Commission interacted with representatives of recognized national political parties - Aam Aadmi Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Indian National Congress and National People's Party and recognized state-level political parties - All India Forward Bloc and All India Trinamool Congress and sought their suggestions.
Most political parties appreciated the SIR process of the Election Commission in West Bengal and expressed their full faith and trust in the Commission.
The political parties demanded that the Commission take strict action to stop any kind of attack or intimidation of voters in the upcoming elections. They urged the Election Commission to ensure a peaceful, free and fair election.
The parties requested for deployment of a large number of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to ensure the safety of every voter and prevent election violence. Concerns were expressed about the possibility of misuse of country-made bombs, illegal firearms, money and muscle power by certain parties.
The political parties requested the Commission to complete the election in one or two phases.
Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar assured the political parties that elections in India are held as per the law and the Commission will leave no stone unturned to ensure a fair, transparent, free and fair election in West Bengal.
Shri Gyanesh Kumar further said that the Election Commission will adopt a ‘zero tolerance’ policy in case of any kind of violence or intimidation against voters or election workers.
The political parties assured the Commission that they will extend their full cooperation to ensure a violence-free election in West Bengal.
The Chief Election Commissioner reiterated that the SIR has been completed with utmost transparency. He said that the purpose of SIR is to ensure that no eligible voter is left out and no ineligible person is included in the electoral roll. He added that Forms 6/7/8 can still be submitted for inclusion, deletion or change of name.Later, the Commission held a detailed review with the heads and nodal officers of law enforcement agencies, IGs, DIGs, Divisional Commissioners, Police Commissioners, District Election Officers (DEOs) and SSPs/SPs on every aspect of election planning, EVM management, logistics, training of polling staff, law and order, voter awareness and campaigning.
The Commission has directed all the heads and nodal officers of law enforcement agencies to work with complete impartiality and strictly crack down on any activities that may lead to voter inducement.
The commission has also directed all DEOs to ensure adequate minimum facilities (AMF) including ramps, wheelchairs and drinking water at every polling station for the convenience of voters.