With only hours remaining before polling begins, preparations for phase 2 of the West Bengal Assembly elections have entered their final stage. The Election Commission, in a late but significant move, has released a supplementary voter list on the eve of voting, covering 142 constituencies across seven districts.
The newly-published list includes voters whose eligibility had been under dispute and was pending adjudication by electoral tribunals. While only 139 names had been added prior to the first phase, the number has now increased sharply to 1,468 ahead of the second phase. At the same time, six names have been removed following tribunal decisions.
According to Commission officials, the updated list has been uploaded to the official website to ensure transparency. It incorporates individuals who were not part of the original electoral roll but have since been declared eligible through due legal process. Initial uncertainty over the exact number of additions and deletions prompted clarification from the Commission, which later confirmed the final figures.
Meanwhile, security arrangements have been significantly intensified across seven districts set to vote. Drawing lessons from Phase 1, the Commission has carried out a reshuffle in the police administration. A total of 26 experienced officers have been redeployed with additional responsibilities in key constituencies.
In Barrackpore, four additional officers have been assigned to maintain order in the industrial belt, while three officers have been deployed in Diamond Harbour to strengthen surveillance in what is considered a high-stakes constituency. Other sensitive areas, including Howrah, Krishnanagar, Barasat, Basirhat, Baruipur, and the Sundarbans, have each received two additional officers.
The scale of central force deployment remains substantial. Nearly 2,00,000 personnel from central forces have been stationed across the state, supported by 38,297 members of the state police. Under the Commission’s latest guidelines, each polling booth will be guarded by at least half a section of central forces. Clusters of three booths will have one full section, while five-booth clusters will be secured by two sections.
Kolkata alone has been allocated 273 companies of forces. Barrackpore will have 160 companies, Diamond Harbour 134, and Baruipur 161 companies, reflecting the heightened sensitivity of these regions.
To ensure smooth monitoring, real-time updates will be tracked from a Special Control Room in Newtown. The Commission’s comprehensive security and administrative measures signal a cautious approach as polling begins. However, the impact of last-minute voter list revisions and police reshuffling on the electoral process remains to be seen.
Also read: WB polls: BJP-TMC clash erupts inside Jagaddal police station
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