Dy Election Commissioner to review poll preparations in Bengal

Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi will review Lok Sabha poll preparations, including the law and order situation, in West Bengal on March 25.
"Vinod Zutshi will review the entire poll preparations in the state in a high-level meeting with all district magistrates and superintendents of police on March 25," Joint Chief Electoral Officer Saibal Barman said here today.
Ahead of the March 25 meeting, state Chief Electoral Officer Sunil Gupta today had a session with all DMs and SPs through video conferencing to review poll preparedness across the state.
"Law and order, execution of non-bailable warrants (NBW) and violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) were among other things that we discussed in today's video-conference with the DMs and SPs," Barman said.

Speaking on the deployment pattern, Barman said each polling booth would have armed guards, while the Jangalmahal would have an improved security cover compared to the security arrangements in the 2011 Assembly elections.
"KLO is a major concern this time and the Commission is taking all necessary steps to avert any threats and ensure a peaceful election in the areas where this outfit has its presence," he said.

Barman, however, did not elaborate on the state's requirement of central force, saying, "We are yet to assess the situation and our requirement. It will take some more time."
"However, the state forces have already been put on the normal drill and it will be decided later on how many of them will be deployed on election duty," he said.

The DMs and SPs have already been asked to take strong measures against violation of Model Code of Conduct and maintain law and order situation in the state, Barman added.