West Bengal political parties voice objections over polling booth bifurcation ahead of 2026 elections

The West Bengal Chief Electoral officer’s (WB-CEO’s) office will accept objections from the political parties over booth bifurcation issue till September 8.

At a meeting called by WB-CEO Manoj Agarwal on Friday to discuss the proposed reorganisation of polling stations for the assembly polls in 2026, all major political parties expressed their disgruntlement over the issue. Meanwhile, the leading political parties, including Trinamool and Congress protested about SIR in Bengal and claimed it should not be allowed.

“Objections can be submitted by the political parties till September 8 within 5:00 pm,” Agarwal said.


The state is likely to get nearly 13,816 additional polling booths for the polls, up from prevailing 87,681 booths.

“Objections can be submitted by the political parties till September 8 by 5PM,” Agarwal said.

BJP has raised objections about more than 40% BLOs being recruited from temporary posts when the state government has five times more government officials in permanent posts. “More than 40% BLOs are temporary staffers. AEROs and EROs did not notice this? Why has this been done?” BJP delegation led by BJP leader Sisir Bajoria said, adding that he will take up the matter with ECI.

“EC guidelines temporary staff. Out of a total 97,000 booths, there may be 1000 booths where temporary BLOs have been recruited,” a top official said.

Emphasizing that EC should maintain impartiality and their objections about SIR, Aroop Biswas, Trinamool minister, who participated in the meeting, said, “Earlier in a booth 1500 people could cast their votes. Now it will be 1200, we have no objections on that but the rest 300 voters must be able to cast their voters in nearby booths, which is within two kilometres. We have spoken about our stand. No voters should be deprived of their rights to cast votes.”

“In the name of SIR, no one can be deprived from voting while benefits cannot be given to any political party. If need be, we will make Delhi March with ten lakh people as said by our party General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee,” Biswas said, who was part of 3-member TMC delegation. Trinamool Congress leadership said that they are not satisfied and has expressed their concern about SIR.

Saying it is not the first SIR in the country, Bajoria said, “The main issue of discussion was rationalization of polling booth. We received a link from CEO’s office in all 24 districts which shows that the DEOs (who are DMs) of all districts have not received any objections from any political parties. These reports are absolutely fake and the attendance sheet attached is also fake.”

CPI-M leader Samik Lahiri also claimed that DEO (DM) has submitted false reports and the CEO admitted 8 September for submitting objections. “Cause of rejection and acceptance should be mentioned in reply. How can free and fair polls take place with such partial and biased District and block administration,” Lahiri said.

“BJP has raised the SIR issue and we object that there will be no political SIR in Bengal,” Congress representative Asutosh Chatterjee said.