Bengal polls: CEC Gyanesh Kumar says EC has zero tolerance for violence, intimidation

Kolkata: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Tuesday said Bengal's law and order has been reviewed in the two-day meeting and the entire state government, headed by the Chief Secretary, Director General Police (DGP), all the District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police and political parties have assured the Election Commission that the coming assembly polls shall be “violence-free and without any intimidations”.

“We have reviewed the law and order in the last two days and all stakeholders have assured violence-free and intimidation-free polls in the coming polls,” Kumar said during an interaction with the mediapersons. ECI full bench was in Bengal to review poll preparedness in Bengal.

Kumar said that in the coming polls in Bengal, the Election Commission will have “zero tolerance” against any electors, any election officials or any persons. “Those who will be found engaged in this kind of intimidation or violence, Election Commission will take stringent legal action against such persons.


In the past election, ECI has reviewed such cases of poll violences and action has been taken against the perpetrators and these cases are being reviewed again, the CEC said.

Talking about the central force mobilization, CEC said. “The central force mobilizations will be done in a professional way as a confidence building measure, augmenting the local state police, to make the voters understand that there will be no fear near the polling booth.”

“The Election Commission has zero tolerance against any kind of violence. Earlier, pre-poll and post-poll violences were witnessed. After ECI’s clear message over zero tolerance and stand against intimidation, we hope such instances of violence will not happen again. If it happens, we will take strict action,” he iterated.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Tuesday said he has given clear message to enforce of rule of law without fear and favour during the two-day poll-preparedness meeting meeting with District Magistrates, Police Superintendents, IGs and 24 Enforcement Agencies and state administration, including Chief Secretary, DGP and state administration.

“Any Indian citizen whose names are not in the electoral rolls, can include their names by filling the Form 6 and can include their names,” Kumar added.