Kolkata, 09 March (H.S.) : Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Monday assured political parties that the Election Commission of India would take all necessary steps to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections in West Bengal. He stressed that the Commission follows a policy of “zero tolerance” toward any form of violence during the electoral process.

Speaking at a meeting with political parties in Kolkata, Kumar said elections in India are conducted strictly in accordance with the law and the Commission would leave no stone unturned to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.

The meeting was also attended by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, along with the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal and other senior officials of the Commission.

According to officials, the interaction aimed to hear the concerns and suggestions of political parties and ensure their participation in strengthening the electoral process ahead of the upcoming polls. Each party was given around 15 minutes to present its views during the structured meeting.

Representatives from several national and state political parties participated in the discussions. These included leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Indian National Congress, and the National People's Party. Representatives from recognised state parties such as the All India Forward Bloc and the All India Trinamool Congress were also present.

During the meeting, some political parties appreciated the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls in West Bengal, expressing confidence that the exercise would help improve the accuracy of the voter list.

However, several parties also raised concerns over the law-and-order situation during elections. They urged the Commission to take strict measures to prevent voter intimidation and possible disruptions by anti-social elements.

Some representatives also flagged concerns over the potential use of crude bombs, illegal firearms, and the influence of money and muscle power during the electoral process. Political parties demanded large-scale deployment of Central Armed Police Forces to maintain peace and instil confidence among voters.

In addition, several parties suggested that polling should ideally be conducted in one or two phases to minimise the chances of violence and ensure a smooth electoral process.

Responding to these concerns, the Chief Election Commissioner reiterated the Commission’s commitment to conducting elections in a transparent and impartial manner. He also clarified that the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls has been carried out transparently and without bias.

Kumar further informed that Form 6, Form 7, and Form 8 can still be submitted for inclusion of new voters, deletion of names, or correction of details in the electoral rolls.

At the end of the meeting, representatives of the political parties assured the Commission of their full cooperation in ensuring that the forthcoming elections in West Bengal are conducted peacefully and without violence.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh