EC shortlists 69 high-rises in state for setting up new polling booths
Times of India | 10 January 2026
Kolkata: Bengal CEO Manoj Agarwal has forwarded a list of 69 high-rises in the state to serve as new booths in the upcoming Assembly polls. Of these, 10 are from two parliamentary constituencies in Kolkata while another 47 are in the adjoining neighbourhoods within the Kolkata Metropolitan Area.
Earlier, the EC had asked the DEOs to find high-rises where polling booths would be set up in housing complexes, which had over 300 voters, in Kolkata and its adjoining districts. The DEOs submitted their lists and, based on it, the CEO prepared his list. He, however, said the number of high-rises could increase later. The EC's letter to DEOs emphasised the need for an "extensive survey" to randomise new polling stations.
Agarwal said that two high-rises from south and eight from north Kolkata were selected while the maximum were from South 24 Parganas (with 25), followed by North 24 Parganas (with 22 highrises). Howrah had four, Hooghly five and East Burdwan got three high-rises on this list.
The EC, in Dec, asked the DEOs to begin a survey of high-rises in their areas and submit lists to the EC by year-end, allowing the commission to act directly to make requisition of high-rises for using part of the campus as booths, as many of the high-rises which were approached by the EC officials for setting up booths refused to give their consent.
Many of the flat-owners of the high-rises, which had even given no objection certificate, later withdrew their consent on the plea that there was political pressure. Also, a section of housing society residents did not approve their campus to be used as booths fearing political chaos to enter their booths.
An EC official said the commission had constitutional powers to requisition private properties, similar to how private vehicles were occasionally taken for official use during elections. The official added that the EC would not hold further discussions with any political party on the issue.
Many of the residents' welfare association initially agreed to the EC request to host a polling booth, but they changed their mind after a meeting with mayor Firhad Hakim. "Earlier, we gave our consent to the EC. But after the meeting, we withdrew our consent and now if the EC takes the campus for use as booths using their power, we have nothing to say," said an office-bearer of a housing complex.