West Bengal Assembly Elections: Potential for Single-Phase Polling

Single-Phase Polling Consideration in West Bengal

Kolkata, Feb 26: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has estimated that approximately 2,500 companies from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will be necessary if the upcoming Bengal Assembly elections are conducted in a single phase.

A proposal advocating for a single-phase election has been submitted to the ECI's headquarters in New Delhi by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal, located in Kolkata. However, the CEO has clarified that the final decision will rest with the Commission.

According to sources within the Commission, following the recommendation for a single-phase election, an initial assessment was made regarding the CAPF requirement. They indicated that 2,500 companies would be essential for this scenario. The Commission is expected to discuss with the Union Minister of Home Affairs about the feasibility of arranging these forces, which will influence the decision on the number of polling phases.

Even if a single-phase election is not feasible, it is anticipated that the number of phases will be significantly reduced compared to previous elections in West Bengal, which typically involved seven or eight phases.

During the last major election in 2024, the Lok Sabha elections, polling occurred over eight phases, with 1,099 CAPF companies deployed. In contrast, the 2011 West Bengal assembly elections were conducted in two phases, requiring 725 CAPF companies.

The last instance of single-phase polling in West Bengal dates back to the 2001 Assembly elections.

Implementing a single-phase election could present both benefits and challenges. One advantage is that it would hinder political parties from moving their supporters between areas, addressing concerns about external influence on voters on polling day.

However, a single-phase election would necessitate a larger deployment of CAPF, particularly on the day of voting. Sources from the CEO's office have indicated that if the Commission can ensure adequate arrangements, the single-phase election concept is quite viable.