Kolkata is bracing for a significant visit from India’s Election Commission of India (ECI) full bench, scheduled for a two-day tour starting March 1. This comes right after the publication of the final voter list on February 28 and the conclusion of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state.
The dates for the ECI’s high-level delegation were finalized during a key meeting on Tuesday at the ECI headquarters in New Delhi. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal briefed the full bench on the ground realities in West Bengal.
Upon arrival in Kolkata, the commissioners will hold detailed discussions with CEO Agarwal, additional CEOs, joint CEOs, deputy CEOs, and District Electoral Officers (DEOs). The agenda focuses on assessing the post-SIR scenario ahead of the crucial 2026 assembly elections.
Sources indicate that the ECI is poised to announce the polling dates shortly after the visit, likely in the first week of March. This timeline was confirmed during the Delhi meeting, signaling a fast-tracked preparation for what promises to be a fiercely contested poll battle.
Discussions also touched on the number of phases for the elections. CEO Agarwal strongly advocated for a single-phase poll, assuring full readiness provided there is adequate deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). While the commission refrained from a firm commitment, it assured no more than three phases under any circumstances.
The last single-phase assembly election in West Bengal was in 2001. Subsequent polls, both assembly and Lok Sabha, have spanned six to eight phases. A single-phase election in 2026 could streamline logistics but poses challenges in security and management, as per insider insights.
This visit underscores the ECI’s commitment to ensuring a free and fair electoral process in a politically charged state, setting the stage for one of India’s most watched assembly polls.