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West Bengal Bans Motorcycle Rallies & Night Rides Ahead of Polls

The Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal has issued strict restrictions on motorcycle movement to ensure free and fair Assembly elections. The rules ban rallies two days before polling and prohibit night-time motorcycle movement from 6 PM to 6 AM. Daytime pillion riding is also restricted, with exemptions for essential purposes like medical needs. These measures aim to prevent intimidation and unlawful mobilization during the electoral process.

Key Points: West Bengal Motorcycle Restrictions for Assembly Elections

  • No motorcycle rallies 2 days before poll
  • Night movement banned from 6 PM to 6 AM
  • Pillion riding restricted during day
  • Exemptions for medical or family needs
  • Strict enforcement by police
2 min read

West Bengal CEO imposes restrictions on motorbike movement ahead of polls

West Bengal CEO imposes strict curbs on motorcycle movement and rallies before polling days to ensure violence-free elections. Details here.

"This measure is being taken to maintain a calm and conducive atmosphere for voters - Chief Electoral Officer order"

Kolkata, April 21

The Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal has issued a directive imposing strict restrictions on motorcycle movement and rallies ahead of polling days to ensure free, fair, and violence-free Assembly elections in the state.

The instructions have been sent to all District Election Officers and Commissioners of Police, and Superintendents of Police for immediate implementation.

According to the order, the restrictions will come into effect from "Polling day minus two" onward and remain in place through polling day, with the aim of preventing intimidation, unlawful mobilisation, and any disruption to the electoral process.

As per the guidelines, no motorcycle rallies will be allowed from two days before polling. Additionally, movement of motorcycles between 6 PM and 6 AM has been completely restricted during this period, except in emergencies such as medical needs or family functions.

Further, from 6 AM to 6 PM during the pre-poll period, pillion riding on motorcycles will not be permitted, except for essential purposes like medical emergencies, family-related needs, or transporting school children. On the day of polling, however, limited relaxation has been provided, allowing family members to travel together on motorcycles between 6 AM and 6 PM for voting and other essential activities.

The CEO has also stated that individuals requiring exemptions must obtain prior written permission from their local police station. Authorities have been directed to widely publicise these restrictions through print, electronic, and social media platforms to ensure public awareness.

District officials have been instructed to issue necessary legal orders, coordinate closely with the police, and strictly monitor enforcement to prevent any violations. The directive emphasises that no activity should be allowed that could lead to intimidation or disturb the electoral environment.

"This measure is being taken to maintain a calm and conducive atmosphere for voters and to prevent any untoward incident during the election period," the order stated.

West Bengal will go to polls in two phases for the 2026 Assembly elections, with the first phase scheduled on April 23 and the second on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 4.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good move by the Election Commission. But what about enforcement? In my area, local party workers often ignore such rules. The police need to be impartial and act without fear or favour. Let's see if this remains just another order on paper.
S
Suresh O
Practical difficulties for daily commuters like me. My son's tuition and my work both require bike travel after 6 PM. Getting written permission from the police station will be a hassle. Couldn't they find a less disruptive way to ensure security? 🤔
A
Aman W
Finally! This is a direct hit on the "bike brigades" that political parties use. Peaceful elections are the foundation of democracy. A small inconvenience for a few days is a small price to pay for a violence-free voting process. Jai Hind!
M
Meera T
The relaxation for family members on polling day is thoughtful. Many families go to vote together. My concern is about the "family functions" exception at night - this could be misused. Clear guidelines are needed to prevent loopholes.
D
David E
Observing from outside, this seems like a drastic but perhaps necessary measure given West Bengal's history of political violence. Hope it achieves the desired result of a calm election. The real test will be uniform implementation across all districts.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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