Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], March 16 : The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, on Monday said that the Election Commission consulted political parties before deciding on a two-phase schedule for this year's West Bengal elections.
The elections will be held in two phases, a major reduction from the seven to eight phases in previous years.
Addressing a press conference in Kolkata, CEO Agarwal said, "Elections are being held in two phases in West Bengal after many years. A lot of evaluation took place, the ECI held meetings with all political parties, and everyone said the same thing: that elections should be held in 1 or 2 phases in West Bengal... The ECI analysed this and announced elections in 2 phases... Whereas previously elections used to be held in 7-8 phases, this time they are being held in 2 phases."
Agarwal said the Election Commission is committed to holding free and fair elections, adding that booth security will be the full responsibility of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and that all activities will be documented.
"The Election Commission is committed to conducting free and fair elections... Booth dominance is the responsibility of the CAPF; the full responsibility will be on the CAPF... Everything will be documented," he said.
Polling in the State is set to be held in two phases on April 23 and 29, with the counting of votes for both phases to be conducted on May 4, setting the stage for a high-stakes contest between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari will contest from Nandigram, where he defeated Mamata Banerjee in 2021, and from Bhabanipur, the constituency currently represented by the TMC chief, as per the first list of 144 candidates released by the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) today for the upcoming West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections.
BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul will contest from Asansol Dakshin, actor-turned-politician Rudranil Ghosh is set to run from Shibpur, and BJP MLA Bankim Chandra Ghosh will contest from Chakdaha.
West Bengal has 294 Assembly seats, and the party is expected to announce the remaining candidates soon.