The meeting, led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, was attended by the state’s Chief Electoral Officer and senior officials of the Commission.
File Photo: IANS
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday assured political parties that it would adopt a “zero tolerance” approach towards violence in the upcoming elections in West Bengal, as the Commission’s top leadership held consultations with representatives of recognised national and state parties in Kolkata to review preparedness and address concerns over the conduct of the electoral process.
The meeting, led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, was attended by the state’s Chief Electoral Officer and senior officials of the Commission.
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Representatives from several national parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Communist Party of India-Marxist, (CPI-M) Indian National Congress (INC) and National People’s Party (NCP), participated in the discussions. Leaders from regional parties, such as the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the All India Forward Bloc, were also present.
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During the interaction, the political parties raised concerns about the possibility of violence and voter intimidation during the elections and urged the Commission to take stringent measures to ensure peaceful polling. Several leaders called for the deployment of a large number of central security forces to maintain law and order and prevent the use of money power, muscle power and illegal weapons during the campaign and voting process.
“They called upon the Commission to take stringent measures to curb the aggression of anti-social elements and ensure that there is no intimidation of voters during the forthcoming elections,” sources familiar with the meeting said.
Some parties also expressed apprehensions about the potential use of crude bombs and illegal firearms during the campaign period and on polling day, issues that have historically been a concern in certain parts of the state’s electoral landscape. They urged the Commission to ensure robust security arrangements and guarantee protection to voters to facilitate a free and fair election.
Several political representatives further suggested that the elections be conducted in one or two phases, arguing that a shorter schedule could help authorities maintain tighter control over law and order and reduce the likelihood of violence.
Responding to the concerns, Kumar assured party representatives that the Commission would strictly adhere to the law and take all necessary steps to ensure the integrity and neutrality of the electoral process. “Elections in India are held as per law and the Election Commission will not leave any stone unturned in ensuring an impartial, transparent and a free and fair poll in West Bengal,” Kumar said, reiterating the Commission’s commitment to “zero tolerance towards violence”.
The meeting also reviewed the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state. According to officials, several political parties appreciated the scale of the revision exercise and expressed confidence in the Commission’s efforts to update the rolls.
Kumar said the revision had been conducted in a transparent manner and without bias, while noting that the process remained open for corrections and updates. “Forms 6, 7 and 8 can still be filed for any inclusions, deletions or changes,” he said, referring to the forms used for voter registration and modifications in the electoral roll.
The political parties also assured the Commission that they would cooperate in ensuring that the elections in West Bengal remain peaceful. “The parties assured the Commission that they will fully cooperate in ensuring that the elections in West Bengal are free of violence,” officials said.
Sources present at the meeting said there was a brief moment of tension during the interaction when a leader from the Trinamool Congress spoke in a raised voice while presenting concerns. The Chief Election Commissioner intervened and advised her to lower her tone and place her suggestions in a constructive manner.
On another issue raised during the discussion, the Commission informed participants that the matter was currently subjudice and therefore it would not comment on it at this stage.
The consultation was part of the Commission’s ongoing engagement with political stakeholders ahead of major elections, aimed at addressing concerns related to electoral rolls, security arrangements and the broader conduct of the democratic process in the state.
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