The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday announced that the upcoming West Bengal Assembly election will be conducted in two phases - April 23rd and April 29th, a sharp departure from the eight-phase polling schedule used during the 2021 election. The decision drew immediate attention at the Commission’s press conference, with several journalists questioning why a state often associated with intense political contestation and allegations of electoral violence would see a significantly reduced polling schedule.
Responding to the queries, the Commission said the decision was taken after reviewing the law and order situation, administrative preparedness and logistical requirements in the state. Officials said the assessment was carried out during visits to poll-bound states and through consultations with district authorities, police officials and security agencies. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar also highlighted the convenience attached to shorter elections. "The number of phases has been brought down to two for everyone's convenience," Kumar said.
According to the Election Commission, the review process included discussions with Chief Secretaries, Directors General of Police, District Election Officers and senior police officials, along with consultations with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Central Armed Police Forces regarding the deployment of security personnel. During the announcement, the Commission indicated that security deployment and polling logistics were examined comprehensively before finalising the election schedule. The deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), which play a key role in maintaining order during elections, was also taken into account while determining the number of polling phases.
During the two day visit to West Bengal, Gyanesh Kumar had held the full bench meeting and has also met with all the political parties. Interestingly both the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and the Left had demanded for limited phases and not more than two. That was a surprise given the fact that it was BJP that had demanded longer elections in multiple phases in Bengal in 2021 citing law and order concerns. West Bengal has frequently figured in national political discourse over allegations of electoral violence and clashes between political workers, particularly during high-stakes elections. The 2021 Assembly election in the state was conducted over eight phases, one of the longest polling exercises in recent years, a decision that was justified at the time by the Commission on grounds of security management and the need to deploy central forces across sensitive districts.
The multi-phase schedule in 2021, specially in middle of the Covid 19 pandemic, had drawn criticism from opposition parties and sections of civil society, who argued that prolonged polling could intensify political tensions and risked public health. At the same time, the Commission maintained that staggered polling allowed security forces to be moved strategically across districts. For the current election cycle, however, the Commission has opted for a shorter schedule. Officials suggested that updated security assessments and the availability of forces allowed the election to be completed in fewer phases, while still ensuring adequate deployment in vulnerable areas.
Under the new schedule, West Bengal will vote in two phases, while the counting of votes will take place along with the other poll-bound states on the same day - May 4.
The Election Commission said extensive security arrangements would still be put in place, including advance deployment of central forces for area domination, route marches and confidence-building measures in sensitive locations. So far, as per reports, 480 companies of central forces have been deployed already and more could be sent during the course of the elections. The Commission also emphasised that the objective remains to ensure free, fair and peaceful polling with full participation of voters, particularly in areas identified as vulnerable.
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