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West Bengal: EC Will Be Tested In Holding Peaceful Elections

By Yogendra
First publised on 2021-01-14 09:52:04

About the Author

Sunil Garodia Yogendra is freelance writer

The Election Commission (EC) has all but decided to advance the dates of state elections by a couple of weeks to avoid a clash with board exams that are scheduled in May and June. Since the pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns have kept physical classes suspended as schools have been closed for the last 10 months, the board exams assume a lot of importance for lakhs of students. Any uncertainty in this regard would create more tension for the already stressed youngsters. Hence, the ECs decision is welcome.

As per the schedule being discussed, the elections will start in end-March or the beginning of April and the process is likely to be completed by end-April. Hence, the EC will have to issue the notification in February. Elections are due in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry. The deputy election commissioner Sandip Jain visited West Bengal on Wednesday (January 13) and held wide ranging discussions with the state administration and the police top brass.

Since the elections in West Bengal are likely to be bitterly contested and there are chances of violence, the EC is sparing no effort to ensure that they pass off peacefully. From increasing the number of booth to prevent overcrowding in these difficult times to identifying more sensitive booths and providing a record number of Central forces, the EC is looking at all options to conduct the polls smoothly and in a free and fair manner.

The EC has been doing a wonderful job of holding elections in these difficult times. The Bihar election, which went off without any major mishap, is a case in point. But the continuing turf war between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has often turned violent, presents a huge challenge to the EC. Holding peaceful elections in West Bengal will be a big feather in its cap. 

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