The Election Commission (EC) has proposed to set up polling booths in housing societies and high-rises in the state which have over 400 voters, a move opposed by West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress stating that they will not allow booths on private premises.

The poll panel first started this experiment in Delhi to increase voter turnout in urban areas. Many in Bengal’s political and administrative circles believe the decision could impact next year’s Assembly polls, especially in constituencies like Kolkata, Howrah and the Salt Lake-New Town area that house large numbers of multi-storeyed residential complexes.

However, the BJP, which believes that high-rise residents tend to be its supporters and are often prevented from stepping out to vote by alleged Trinamool-backed goons, welcomed the decision.

“Polling booths were set up in high-rises for the first time during the Delhi Assembly polls, and it raised the turnout by 15 per cent compared to the previous election,” a poll panel official said. “So, it was decided to extend the measure across the country.”

For now, housing complexes with at least 400 voters will be considered for the privilege, sources in the Election Commission said. “For this, the secretary of the housing society would have to give a No-Objection, and there should be a proper space, like a community hall, to set up the polling booth,” said a senior EC official. He added, “The Election Commission will arrange the polling and security personnel. It will also ensure CCTV coverage.”

But sources in the EC said the TMC opposed the proposal. State Sports Minister and TMC leader Aroop Biswas, who was part of the party’s delegation to the EC, said, “It is not acceptable to set up booths in private areas. Our party will not allow booths on private premises. We had already opposed such proposals.”

Responding to this, BJP leader Rahul Sinha said, “It is obvious that the TMC would oppose such proposals. They know that educated people don’t support them. That is why they always try to stop them from reaching the booth. Previously too, in many cases, they just kept many societies under lock and key so that the people residing there couldn’t exercise their franchise and the TMC cast their votes. If the EC sets up such booths, the TMC won’t survive.”

Expressing concern, a senior BJP leader said, “If the EC tries to implement this decision, TMC leaders would threaten the secretaries of housing societies so that they would not give permission to the poll body to set up booths in their societies.”

On Friday, the EC had a meeting with an all-party delegation on booth rationalisation, during which the state Chief Election Officer (CEO) decided to increase polling booths in the state by almost 14,000. A draft list of the new booths has already been prepared.

According to the draft list, West Bengal will now have 80,681 polling booths. As per the proposal, the total number of booths will increase by 13,816, as many as 37 booths will be abolished, and 1,253 booths will be reorganised. Another 703 booths will be shifted to a new location.