Kolkata, March 16 -- The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, on Monday said that the Election Commission consulted political parties before deciding on a two-phase schedule for this year's West Bengal elections.

The elections will be held in two phases, a major reduction from the seven to eight phases in previous years.

Addressing a press conference in Kolkata, CEO Agarwal said, "Elections are being held in two phases in West Bengal after many years. A lot of evaluation took place, the ECI held meetings with all political parties, and everyone said the same thing: that elections should be held in 1 or 2 phases in West Bengal... The ECI analysed this and announced elections in 2 phases... Whereas previously...