New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner Janesh Kumar asserted that the poll panel will “leave no stone unturned” to ensure free and fair elections in West Bengal and outlined a framework aimed at curbing fraud and boosting voter confidence.In a message to officials overseeing the elections on Monday, Kumar said the Election Commission of India was committed to conducting polls “free from fear, violence, intimidation and inducements” and stressed zero tolerance for any electoral fraud.
He also stressed that no government official should influence the electoral process. “No employee of the state government, local body or autonomous body shall influence the electoral process in any way,” Kumar said.He called on voters to actively participate and urged citizens to vote without fear. “Every voter in West Bengal should exercise their right to vote without fear,” he said.Invoking the wider spirit of democracy, Kumar described the election as a celebration of democracy, saying: “Chunav ka parv, West Bengal ka garv.”The 294-member West Bengal assembly elections will be held in two phases on April 23 and 29, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4.
