BJP-Left demand Bengal polls in 1-2 phases, meet with CEC

The full bench of the Election Commission, led by CEC Gyanesh Kumar, commenced high-level meetings in Kolkata this Monday to oversee preparations for the upcoming Bengal elections. The day began with back-to-back sessions involving major political stakeholders, starting with a BJP delegation, followed immediately by representatives from the CPM. Both parties utilized the platform to address structural concerns regarding the electoral process and the conduct of administrative officials.

A striking point of convergence emerged between the two rival parties regarding the scheduling of the polls. Despite their ideological differences, both the BJP and the CPM formally requested the Commission to conduct the voting in a significantly condensed timeframe, ideally within one or two phases. This "common factor" highlights a shared skepticism toward prolonged polling schedules in the state.

The CPM delegation, headed by Mohammad Salim, focused heavily on discrepancies in the voter list and the neutrality of the administrative machinery. They raised sharp questions about the exclusion of nearly six million voters and the digital barriers faced by marginalized youth when filing Form 6. Meanwhile, the BJP delegation, including Shishir Bajoria and Jagannath Chatterjee, demanded strict action against TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee for recent controversial remarks and called for the identification of sensitive booths to be managed by central forces.