Malda, April 20 -- Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal on Monday reviewed poll preparedness in Malda district, holding a series of meetings with administrative officials and political stakeholders, even as controversy erupted over voting arrangements for polling personnel.
Upon arriving at the Malda district administrative building, Agarwal chaired a high-level meeting with the District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police and state police observer Himanshu Kumar Lal. He later interacted with candidates and representatives of various political parties and inspected the district control room.
Addressing reporters, Agarwal outlined stringent measures to ensure free and fair elections. "Only central forces will be deployed within 100 metres of polling booths. No unauthorised person will be allowed inside the booth. Voters must carry valid authorisation from the Returning Officer," he said. He added that Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) would be stationed at sensitive locations, while magistrates would respond promptly to disturbances. "If serious complaints arise, we will not hesitate to recommend re-poll," he asserted.
He further clarified that civic volunteers would not be engaged in election duty and assured that migrant workers would be allowed to vote, but "no one else can cast a vote on their behalf." Agarwal also confirmed that CCTV surveillance has been expanded across key offices and that strict monitoring protocols are in place. "No one is above the law. We are committed to peaceful and transparent elections," he said.
However, tensions flared at Malda Model Madrasa School in English Bazar, where polling personnel staged protests over confusion regarding postal ballot voting. Many presiding and polling officers, who are voters in English Bazar, alleged they were instructed to cast their votes at the constituencies where they are deployed for duty, such as Chanchal, Ratua, Harishchandrapur and Malatipur.
"With barely two days left, it is impossible for us to travel and vote there. We were told to vote here," a protesting polling official said. Another added: "It is ironic that we are assigned to conduct elections, yet we cannot cast our own votes."
The situation drew political reactions. Trinamool Congress candidate Ashish Kundu alleged: "Under the pretext of SIR, many genuine voters' names have been deleted. This directive is an attempt to prevent them from voting. We will not accept it." BJP candidate Amlan Bhaduri countered: "TMC knows it is losing, so they are creating unnecessary confusion. Everything is being directed from Nabanna."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.