eci-plans-polling-booths-in-high-rise-complexes-of-bengal

Despite strong objections from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is moving ahead with its proposal to set up polling stations inside high-rise residential complexes.

 

The Election Commission had sought detailed reports from districts across the state on residential complexes housing 300 or more voters. According to sources in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), reports have already been submitted by seven districts. Preliminary findings indicate that 69 high-rise residential complexes across these districts meet the criteria.

 

A few days earlier, the CEO’s office convened a meeting with District Election Officers (DEOs) from eight districts — Kolkata North and South, North and South 24 Parganas, East and West Burdwan, Howrah, and Hooghly — to review the progress of the survey. Following the meeting, reports were formally submitted to the Election Commission.

 

District-wise data shows that South Kolkata has two such complexes, North Kolkata eight, South 24 Parganas twenty-five, North 24 Parganas twenty-two, Howrah four, East Burdwan three, and Hooghly five. These complexes have been identified as locations where a single residential unit accommodates 300 or more voters.

 

However, special provisions were made for Kolkata and other major urban areas, where even a single residential complex with more than 300 voters was to be considered for a potential polling station.

 

Mamata Banerjee strongly opposed the move and had written to Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar expressing her concerns. The Chief Minister has argued that polling stations should be set up only in government or semi-government buildings to ensure equal and unbiased access for all voters. She has warned that using private residential premises could raise questions about neutrality and potentially deepen the divide between what she described as the “privileged” and the “underprivileged.”

 

Despite these objections, the Election Commission has so far not altered its stance, indicating that the proposal remains under active consideration as part of efforts to improve voter convenience in densely populated urban areas.

 

Also read: Mamata writes to CEC, alleges political bias in SIR