West Bengal Election Results 2026: Chief Electoral Officer claims ‘ironclad 3-tier security’
Kolkata: As West Bengal prepares for the decisive conclusion of the 2026 Assembly elections, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal has issued a definitive mandate: there will be zero tolerance for disruption. Ahead of the scheduled vote count, Agarwal outlined a massive, multi-layered security strategy designed to maintain the peace seen during the initial polling phases.
Three-tier security shield
To protect the integrity of the mandate, the Election Commission has established a sophisticated "ironclad" perimeter around all counting centers. The security hierarchy is distributed among three distinct forces:
- The inner layer: Exclusively manned by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
- The middle layer: Secured by State Armed Police.
- The outer layer: Managed by the West Bengal State Police.
A total of 200 CAPF companies have been dedicated solely to guarding these centers. In addition, high-definition CCTV surveillance has been synchronised across all hall entrances and exits to track every movement in real-time.
Accountability and training
Agarwal emphasised that the human element of the operation is just as prepared as the tactical side. Returning Officers (ROs), Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) and counting agents have completed several rounds of intensive training to handle the QR-code-enabled entry system and digital result logging.
The CEO issued a stern warning regarding internal conduct. "All government employees, whether from the Central Government or the state government, any person inside the counting hall, including RO (Returning Officer), ARO, if there is any mischief, they will be held responsible... All rules will be followed," he said.
A call for peace
Reflecting on the record-breaking voter turnout and the relatively orderly conduct of the two polling phases, the CEO urged political parties and the public to maintain decorum. High-level coordination meetings with District Magistrates and the Director General of Police have already been conducted to preempt potential unrest.
"I request the people not to create any unrest, nor allow others to do so. There should be no violence during the counting of votes after the elections in the state... I assure you that the counting will be transparent. We will monitor it at every level," Agarwal stated.
Counting timeline
The process is set to begin at 8 am with the tallying of postal ballots. This will be followed by EVM counting starting at 8.30 am. Results will be uploaded live to the official ECINET portal and the Election Commission’s website.
"All arrangements are in place," Agarwal concluded. "There is no possibility of any disruption anywhere, everything will happen as per the rules."
ANI