West Bengal CEO office backs single-phase Assembly polls, cites fairness and past precedent

The office of the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal has clarified the rationale behind its recommendation to conduct the upcoming Assembly elections in a single phase. Sources said the proposal will soon be formally sent to the Election Commission of India, though the final call will rest with the Commission’s top leadership in New Delhi.

According to officials in the CEO’s office, the recommendation stresses that a single-phase election could help ensure a free and fair polling process across the state. The note is expected to outline administrative and security considerations while addressing concerns raised during previous elections. Sources indicated that the proposal draws heavily on criticism made by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during the 2021 Assembly elections, which were held in eight phases amid the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Banerjee had questioned why West Bengal required eight phases when Tamil Nadu, with fewer Assembly seats, voted in a single phase.

Officials also pointed out that West Bengal has witnessed single-phase Assembly elections in the past. A senior source said such a model would prevent political parties from moving supporters between regions, reducing the influence of external elements and allegations of voter intimidation, though it would require extensive deployment of central forces to manage polling day logistics.