The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued directives to District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police in West Bengal ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April or May this year.
Emphasizing the need for absolute impartiality, transparency, and equal accessibility to all political parties, the ECI stressed a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of violence in democracy. It also highlighted the importance of preventing intimidation or threats to voters and candidates, along with ensuring transparency in granting permissions for venues and meeting places based on the “First In First Out” principle.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, during a review of the poll preparedness in West Bengal, announced plans for setting up polling stations exclusively managed by women. He stated, “There will be a few polling stations which will be run entirely by women… Similarly, some polling stations will be established entirely by persons with disabilities.”
Providing statistical insights, the Election Commission stated that as of January 22, 2024, West Bengal has a total of 7.58 Crore electors, with female electors numbering 3.73 Crores and male electors at 3.85 Crores. The state also boasts significant numbers of Persons with Disabilities (PwD), senior citizens, and young voters enrolled.
The commission further revealed plans to set up over 80,000 Polling Stations, with an average of 943 voters per Polling Station (PS), with more than 75% of these PS located in rural areas. Additionally, to promote inclusive and accessible elections, over a thousand PS will be exclusively managed by women, while 24 will be staffed by Persons with Disabilities.
In a meeting with Enforcement Agencies, the commission emphasized the need for a coordinated approach aided by technology to curb malpractices such as the misuse of money and muscle power. Strict vigilance will be maintained on interstate and international borders to ensure fair elections.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar also reviewed the preparations in Uttar Pradesh, where he stressed the importance of increasing the voter turnout. He announced the launch of three new apps to facilitate transparent elections, enabling voters to lodge complaints directly to the Election Commission, access voter helpline services, and obtain information about candidates through the “Know Your Candidate” application.
