The full bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to visit West Bengal from March 8 to 10, intensifying speculation that the schedule for the upcoming state Assembly elections could be announced soon.
Administrative and political circles believe that once the delegation returns to New Delhi, the commission may take a final call on announcing the polling dates. According to an official notice, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Gyanesh Bharti, Principal Secretary S.B. Joshi, Director Manoj C., and Deputy Secretary Abhinav Agarwal will arrive in Kolkata on March 8. A formal communication regarding the visit has been sent to the state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Manoj Kumar Agarwal.
The state administration has been directed to make necessary arrangements for security, protocol, and accommodation during the delegation’s stay. The commission’s engagement will begin on the morning of March 9 with meetings involving recognised political parties in the state. Each party will be given 10 to 15 minutes to present its views on several issues, including the accuracy of voter lists, identification of sensitive polling booths, law and order concerns, and the deployment of central forces during the elections.
Following the interaction with political representatives, the Commission delegation will hold an extended meeting with District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police from across the state to review preparedness at the district level.
According to Commission officials, March 10 has been scheduled for administrative coordination. In the morning, discussions will take place with secretaries of various state departments, including transport, health, power, and public works. Later, a high-level meeting will be held with the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, the Commissioner of Kolkata Police, and the Director General of the state Police.
Meanwhile, the office of the state CEO has stepped up preparations ahead of the commission’s arrival. An emergency meeting with 25 nodal agencies of the state administration is scheduled for Thursday to review all aspects of election readiness. The meeting will be attended by CEO Agarwal, other senior officials, and Special Observer N.K. Mishra.
During a video conference held on March 1, the Senior Deputy Election Commissioner issued clear instructions regarding polling arrangements. Authorities were asked to ensure drinking water, electricity, and internet connectivity at every polling booth. Webcasting facilities are to be arranged at all booths, and in areas where uninterrupted internet connectivity is not possible, mandatory videography will be conducted.
The commission has also directed that vehicles used by central forces be equipped with GPS tracking systems. The administration has been asked to monitor whether the forces are being deployed effectively. Additionally, officials have been instructed to identify sensitive and highly sensitive polling stations and implement special security measures. The commission also conveyed a clear message that the state police would not be able to evade responsibility if there were allegations of misleading central forces during deployment.
With the Commission’s visit approaching, political activity in the state has intensified. Whether the visit will serve as a final review or signal the imminent announcement of the election schedule is expected to become clear after March 10.
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