The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal has formally requested the Election Commission of India (ECI) to organize the upcoming elections in either a single phase or a maximum of two phases, as opposed to the previously adopted method of conducting elections in seven to eight phases over a span of six weeks. The party conveyed this appeal through a written submission to the ECI.

Concerns Over Transferred Officers

In their communication, the BJP has also demanded that all election officials who were reassigned by the ECI during the last three elections—the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the 2021 Vidhan Sabha elections, and the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections—be reinstated. The party has emphasized the need for adequate deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel well in advance of polling to familiarize them with local contexts, thereby reducing reliance on state police.

Operational Directives for CAPF

The BJP has proposed that the Nodal Officer of the CAPF be mandated to ensure the movement of forces without accepting any hospitality from local entities, a practice observed during previous elections. The party has additionally requested that General and Police Observers be sent to their designated areas well in advance to facilitate an independent assessment of the electoral environment. Furthermore, the BJP suggests that area domination, confidence-building measures, and route marches for the CAPF should be organized based on insights from the observers, rather than being contingent upon local police support.

Claims Against West Bengal Police Welfare Organisation

The state BJP has called for the ECI to prohibit the West Bengal Police Welfare Organisation and to seal all of its offices and operational areas. They have labeled this organization as a front for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), alleging that it issues unlawful orders and pressures police personnel to hand over their ballot papers to unauthorized officers.

Measures Suggested for Polling Day

As part of their proposal, the BJP has advocated for multiple security measures on polling day, including a two-stage identification process for voters. This would involve verification conducted by CAPF personnel before voters enter polling stations, followed by a second verification inside the station by Presiding or Polling Officers. The party has also insisted that political party agents should remain outside the polling room rather than inside, which has been the practice in West Bengal. They propose that each polling station be under the strict surveillance of the CAPF, without any presence of state or city police or volunteers.

Webcam Monitoring and Counting Protocols

The BJP additionally recommended the installation of webcams at all polling stations, with access provided to candidates and national and state parties for monitoring purposes. They have stated that polling should be halted immediately if any webcam malfunctions, with a re-poll mandated if the issue persists. For the counting process, the party requested that it take place in district and sub-divisional towns with a 50:50 mix of state and central officers, also under CAPF supervision.

Upcoming Elections and ECI’s Schedule

Meanwhile, a delegation from the Trinamool Congress met with officials from the Election Commission of India, including Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, in Kolkata. In 2026, assembly elections are set to take place in four states and one union territory, namely West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry. The ECI is anticipated to announce the official election schedule in the near future.

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