The first phase of voting of the West Bengal Assembly Elections witnessed high enthusiasm across the state, with the election machinery maintaining that the process has been largely peaceful despite a few isolated incidents. State Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal, speaking to the media on Thursday morning, said polling is being conducted under the strict supervision of the Election Commission of India.
He emphasised that the Commission is closely monitoring developments throughout the day to ensure a smooth voting process. Addressing reports of sporadic tensions in Naoda, located in Murshidabad district, Agarwal confirmed that the Commission has taken note of the situation.
“We have received reports regarding the incidents in Naoda. A detailed report has been sought from the district administration. Once verified, strict action will be taken against those responsible,” he said.
The CEO also highlighted extensive surveillance arrangements put in place to ensure transparency. Approximately 1.5 lakh CCTV cameras have been deployed across polling booths statewide. He added that technical teams have been stationed locally to address any malfunctions.
“Mechanics are present in every area to resolve issues with CCTV cameras or other equipment without delay,” Agarwal assured.
Refuting allegations circulated earlier in the day regarding the discovery of a vehicle carrying Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), the CEO dismissed such claims as baseless. “The Commission has received no such report. These are merely rumours,” he stated.
Sources within the Commission indicated that a central control room is maintaining real-time monitoring of polling activities. Quick Response Teams are being deployed immediately to locations where even minor complaints are received, in an effort to prevent escalation.
With polling still underway, attention now turns to overall voter turnout and whether the Election Commission can sustain peace and order through the remainder of the day.
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