West Bengal Assembly polls likely in two phases: EC Officials

The upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal are likely to be conducted in two phases , a senior official of the Election Commission of India said on Thursday.

The official said the final decision on the election schedule will be taken after another round of meetings at the Commission’s headquarters in New Delhi. Elections to the 294-member Assembly are expected to be held in the coming weeks , though the official schedule is yet to be announced.

During meetings with the Commission, opposition parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress and Communist Party of India (Marxist) suggested holding the polls in a single phase or at most two phases, citing administrative convenience and security concerns.Similar suggestions were also made by officials from various agencies, including security forces.

The official said conducting the election in two phases could help curb poll-related violence. With staggered polling, security forces would be able to focus their deployment in specific areas, reducing the chances of miscreants moving from one constituency to another to create disturbances.“This factor will also be considered before taking the final call,” the official added.

When asked whether polling could be held in a single phase, the official said it was not impossible . He noted that the Commission had conducted the Assembly elections in Maharashtra, which has 288 seats, in a single phase in 2024. However, he indicated that such an arrangement was unlikely for West Bengal this time.

Law and order during the election period remains a major concern for the Commission. Senior officials of the West Bengal government have assured the poll body of strict vigil during the pre- and post-poll periods to ensure peaceful conduct of the elections.