West Bengal polls: CEO asks voters to head to booths like Durga Puja pandals

With Assembly elections around the corner, West Bengal’s Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal has reached out to voters with a familiar cultural touch, urging people to step out in large numbers and take part in the polling process. Drawing a parallel with the festive spirit of Durga Puja, Agarwal encouraged people to approach polling booths with the same enthusiasm they show while visiting pandals during the celebrations.

Call for active participation

Speaking about the preparations in Murshidabad district, Agarwal said, “Good preparations are underway for the elections in Murshidabad. We are meeting with people. We are also meeting with all the officials and all the observers who came to witness the election. We are prepared for free and fair elections; everyone should come and vote.”

“We are urging the people to come to the booth as they go to the pandals during Durga Puja and cast their vote”, he further said.

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Clarification on voter eligibility

Addressing concerns over electoral roll revisions, Agarwal clarified that individuals whose names were removed during the Special Intensive Revision process will only be eligible to vote after their cases are cleared through the appropriate legal channels. Their inclusion will depend on the updated electoral rolls following tribunal decisions.

“Those whose names have been removed will only be able to vote once their names are cleared by the tribunal," he said.

Meanwhile, political campaigning is intensifying in the state. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is scheduled to address a rally in Shamsherganj in Murshidabad district on April 14 as part of the Congress party’s outreach efforts.

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Key dates for the election

West Bengal will vote in two phases on April 23 and April 29. The results are set to be announced on May 4. The elections follow the 2021 Assembly polls, where the Trinamool Congress secured 213 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as a significant contender with 77 seats, setting the stage for another closely watched contest.