Gyanesh Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner, has promised that his organisation will “leave no stone unturned” to ensure free and fair elections in West Bengal. As part of its efforts to eliminate malpractice from the electoral process, the Commission has come up with an effective structure. Speaking at a gathering of officials involved in conducting the election, Kumar reiterated the commitment of the Commission to provide “a level playing field that is free of fear, violence and intimidation.”
The CEC issued a stern warning to the state’s bureaucracy, insisting that the electoral process must remain entirely independent of government influence. He emphasised that no employee of the state government, local bodies, or autonomous organisations would be permitted to sway the proceedings in any capacity. The directive serves as a clear signal to administrative staff that their role is strictly neutral as the state approaches the finish line.
Kumar did not only limit himself to issuing administrative notices but also issued a call directly to the citizens of West Bengal. He called upon all the voters of West Bengal to exercise their franchise without fear of any sort of repercussions. For this felicitous event, Kumar made an announcement that the upcoming election will be an essential element in the celebration of democracy, saying, "Chunav ka parv, West Bengal ka garv."
The extremely contested fight for power in the 294-membered West Bengal Assembly is likely to take place in two phases, the first on April 23 and the second on April 29. Since the declaration of the results is to be made after the counting process on May 4, the primary aim of the Election Commission is to ensure that the election is free from local influence or coercion.
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