ECI Demands Strong Security Amid Election Process Concerns in West Bengal

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has mandated improved security measures in West Bengal after incidents threatened the safety of Booth Level Officers and the Chief Electoral Officer's office. The directive includes the relocation of the CEO's office and the acceleration of polling station creation in sensitive areas.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued an urgent directive to West Bengal's top law enforcement to ensure stringent security protocols are followed amid growing concerns for the safety of election personnel. This comes in the wake of recent events that jeopardized the safety of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and the security of the Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) office in Kolkata.

In a formal letter to the West Bengal Director General of Police and the Kolkata Police Commissioner, the ECI highlighted that BLOs must be shielded from any intimidation or pressure from political party activists, as these actions threaten the electoral process's integrity.

This directive follows a significant security lapse at the West Bengal CEO's office on November 24, 2025, which garnered widespread media attention. Consequently, the ECI has called for the relocation of the CEO's office to a more secure location while ensuring stringent security measures at both the current and future office premises.

In addition to this, the ECI has directed District Election Officers to accelerate the establishment of polling stations in densely populated and sensitive areas such as slums and residential complexes.

Compounding the situation, a delegation of 10 Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs, including MP Derek O'Brien, met with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the ECI of mishandling the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, allegedly resulting in 40 deaths, which they fiercely contested.

Simultaneously, tensions flared outside the EC's Kolkata office as demonstrators protested the accelerated SIR process. Police responded swiftly by erecting barricades to control the situation as public unrest grew.

(With inputs from agencies.)