KOLKATA: In a significant move ahead of the upcoming polls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to embark on a crucial two-day visit to West Bengal starting March 9. Led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the team arrives late on March 8 and will dive into intensive reviews on March 9 and 10.
West Bengal’s Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal confirmed the visit to reporters, highlighting discussions on key electoral matters and future preparations. ‘The ECI team, headed by the Chief Election Commissioner, will engage on multiple issues,’ Agarwal stated, emphasizing adherence to all directives.
Addressing concerns over voter list deletions, Agarwal clarified, ‘No names have been removed arbitrarily. All actions follow strict guidelines, and we await the Commission’s feedback after meetings with journalists and political parties.’
The agenda kicks off on March 9 at 10 AM with the full ECI bench meeting representatives from registered political parties. Each party gets 10 minutes to voice concerns. At 12:30 PM, Agarwal will present a 30-minute briefing on judicial decisions and election readiness.
Post-lunch, from 1:15 to 1:30 PM, security and investigative agencies from state and central levels will convene. This includes 24 agencies alongside district magistrates and police superintendents, wrapping up the day’s proceedings.
On March 10, the team meets top state officials, including Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravarty and acting DGP Piyush Pandey, to assess overall security frameworks and logistical setups. This visit underscores ECI’s commitment to transparent and fair elections in the politically charged state.