The 13-member full bench of the ECI reached the state on Sunday to assess the law and order situation in the state and take stock of its poll preparedness.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Chief Election Commissioner Rajeev Kumar said, “We have heard about the partisan attitude of the state bureaucracy, especially in the lower levels. We will not tolerate any type of partisan attitude. We have instructed the district administration to maintain and establish a level playing field. If they will not, we will make them. Even then, if they won’t do it, we will take strict action.”
“Election is a festival and people should cast their vote in a festive attitude,” he said, adding, “We met all political parties, state and central enforcement agencies during these days.”
“The state nodal officer, ECI nodal officer and Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal will decide where and how much central force should be deployed. Similarly, the district administration will be responsible for deploying central forces.”
Kumar added that the ECI had clear information about post-poll violence and strict action will be taken to curb both pre-poll and post-poll violence. The ECI said no civil volunteers or contractual staff “will be put on election duties or law and order maintenance, directly or indirectly.” It further instructed, “Ensure transparency in giving permissions for grounds, meeting places- First In First Out Principle. No indiscriminate action to debar party workers from election/party work like becoming polling agents.”
The ECI said it instructed district magistrates and superintendents of police to be “absolutely impartial, transparent, accessible to all parties equally and ensure level playing field. Ensure impartiality by junior officials working at cutting edge level. Absolutely zero tolerance to any violence in democracy.”
“No scope for any kind of intimidation/ threat to voters and candidates. Adequate CAPF deployment in the state in advance for confidence-building measures. Deployment of CAPF in consultation with DEO, SP/CP and General Observer to sensitive areas. CAPF deployment plan to be shared with political parties in weekly meetings,” it further stated.