Election Commission Directs Bengal Officials To Ensure Free, Fair And ‘Chappa-Free’ Polls

Last Updated:April 04, 2026, 07:05 IST

EC said the elections must be violence-free, intimidation-free and inducement-free. It also underlined that there should be no “chappa vote”, no booth jamming and source jamming.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi, has instructed top officials in West Bengal to ensure elections are conducted in a free, fair, transparent and impartial manner.

Senior officials, including the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, Kolkata Police Commissioner, Divisional Commissioners, ADGPs, IGs, District Magistrates, CPs, SSPs and SPs, have been directed to guarantee that voters can exercise their rights without fear.

The Commission stressed that the elections must be violence-free, intimidation-free and inducement-free. It also underlined that there should be no “chappa vote", no booth jamming and no source jamming.

Central forces to remain beyond counting day

The Election Commission said that 500 companies of central forces will remain deployed in the state even after the counting of votes on May 4. The state will go to polls in two phases on April 23 and 29.

An additional 200 companies of Central Armed Police Forces will be stationed to guard electronic voting machines, strong rooms and counting centres until the counting process is complete. Each company consists of 90 to 125 personnel.

Officials said the decision was taken in view of past incidents, especially the post-poll violence seen during the previous Assembly elections.

News india Election Commission Directs Bengal Officials To Ensure Free, Fair And ‘Chappa-Free’ Polls

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