Polling booths will indeed be set up in high-rise residential complexes. The Election Commission announced this on Friday. It has been informed that polling booths will be established in a total of 69 high-rise residential complexes across 7 districts in the state. The commission has decided to set up polling booths in residential complexes where more than 300 people reside.
According to commission sources, polling booths will be set up in 2 high-rise residential complexes in South Kolkata, 8 in North Kolkata, 25 in South 24 Parganas, 22 in North 24 Parganas district, 4 in Howrah district, 3 in East Bardhaman district, and 5 in Hooghly district.
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There has been a tug-of-war over creating polling booths in high-rise residential complexes over the past few months. The state CEO office had sought reports from DEOs to know which residential complexes could have polling booths. After not receiving any applications even after the specified time, the CEO office had initially stepped back from the decision to create voting centers in high-rise residential complexes. However, the Election Commission had pressured on this matter and instructed to conduct fresh surveys and submit reports.
Notably, state Chief Minister Mamata Bandhyopadhyay had written a letter to the country's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, raising objections to setting up polling booths in high-rise residential complexes. The state's ruling party had strongly objected to setting up voting centres in high-rises from the beginning. Their claim was that voting centers are usually set up in government schools. If voting centers are established in high-rise residential complexes, questions may arise regarding the neutrality and security of voting.
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In response, the BJP's claim was that voters in high-rise residential complexes often do not want to go to voting centers to cast their votes. Mainly due to the ruling party's 'intimidation', they remain 'confined to homes' on voting day, which is why there is a need to set up voting centres within residential complexes if there are a specified number of residents.
