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Bengal Polls: Officials Vow Violence-Free, Fear-Free Elections

Key electoral officials from all West Bengal districts held press conferences to assure voters of a free, fair, and violence-free election process. They issued strong warnings against booth-jamming, intimidation, or any attempts to disrupt polling, promising strict legal action. The assurances coincided with Union Home Minister Amit Shah's campaign rallies in the state, where he echoed the commitment to peaceful polls. The two-phase assembly elections are scheduled for April 23 and 29, with results due on May 4.

Key Points: Bengal Polls: Officials, Amit Shah Assure Violence-Free Elections

  • Officials vow free & fair polls
  • Strong warning to troublemakers
  • Polls to be fear and intimidation-free
  • Amit Shah echoes assurance at rallies
2 min read

Bengal polls: Officials assure violence-free elections​

Election officials and Union Home Minister Amit Shah pledge free, fair, and violence-free West Bengal assembly polls, warning troublemakers of strict action.

"any attempt to disrupt the polling process... would be dealt with seriously - District Electoral Officials"

Kolkata, April 13

The district magistrates, who are also district electoral officers, police superintendents, and district forces coordinators of the districts concerned, on Monday separately urged the people of poll-bound West Bengal to reach polling booths without fear and cast their votes in large numbers.​

The three key electoral officials from all districts and the two electoral districts of Kolkata (Dakshin and Uttar) simultaneously addressed the media. ​

The common message conveyed through those press conferences was that the Election Commission of India is determined to ensure 100 per cent free, fair, and violence-free polls this time.​

The three key electoral officers, district magistrates/district electoral officers, police superintendents, and force coordinators, at the respective press conferences, also issued strong notes of caution to probable troublemakers.​

They warned that any attempt to disrupt the polling process through booth-jamming, source-jamming, intimidation of voters, or harassment of the opponent party's polling agents would be dealt with seriously in accordance with the legal provisions and norms specified by the Election Commission of India.​

The officials emphasised that the elections this time will be fear-free, violence-free, intimidation-free, inducement-free, and free of booth-jamming or source-jamming.​

The press conferences coincided with the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the state on Monday to address three back-to-back campaign rallies in two districts. ​

At the rallies, the Union Home Minister also assured that this time the elections in West Bengal would be totally free, fair, and absolutely violence-free.​

He issued a strong warning that the goons backed by the ruling Trinamool Congress should remain at home on polling days unless they want to end up behind bars after the elections.​

The two-phase assembly polls in West Bengal will be held on April 23 and April 29. ​

The results will be declared on May 4.​

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Strong warnings are good, but action is better. We hear these promises every election cycle. The real test will be on April 23rd and 29th. The officials must be impartial and strict with anyone breaking rules, no matter which party they belong to.
A
Aman W
It's interesting that the Home Minister's rallies and the officials' press conferences happened on the same day. Feels coordinated. Hopefully, the focus remains on the EC's role and not on political messaging. Democracy needs neutral umpires.
S
Sarah B
As someone who has worked with election monitoring before, the mention of "source-jamming" is crucial. Preventing the distribution of cash, liquor, or gifts is just as important as preventing physical violence. A free vote is also an uninfluenced vote.
K
Karthik V
My family is in North Bengal. They are genuinely worried. These assurances need to percolate down to every village and para. The presence of central forces should be visible and reassuring to common people, not just a headline.
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Nisha Z
Ultimately, it's on us voters. No matter what, we must come out in large numbers. Our vote is our power. Don't let fear or intimidation win. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳

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