Bengal polls: Why has the ECI told tourists to leave coastal resorts by evening?

Kolkata: The Election Commission of India has directed tourists and non-residents to leave popular coastal destinations in Purba Medinipur district, including Digha, Mandarmani, Tajpur, Udaipur and Shankarpur in West Bengal by Tuesday evening ahead of polling.

The directive comes ahead of voting scheduled on April 23 and is part of heightened security arrangements in the region.

Hotels told to restrict occupancy

As per the order issued by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, hotels in the affected coastal belt have been instructed to ensure that no rooms are occupied by individuals who are not residents of the district from 6 pm on Tuesday until the conclusion of polling.

The coastal region is one of the most visited tourist stretches in the state, making the restriction unusually wide in scope.

The poll body has also barred political party campaigners from staying in the area during the enforcement period. Officials stated that violations would be treated as punishable offences under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

A senior official said, “the rationale behind asking even genuine tourists to leave is the apprehension that outsiders with intent to cause disturbance could enter the district under the cover of tourism and incite unrest during polling.”

Police stations covering Digha, Mandarmani and surrounding coastal areas have begun making public announcements, asking tourists to vacate the region by 6 pm Tuesday. Hotels have also been directed to comply strictly with the order.

Part of wider election security push

The directive is part of a broader enforcement drive ahead of Phase 1 polling, which covers multiple constituencies across north and south Bengal. Authorities have placed several districts under special surveillance to ensure smooth voting.

The commission has also taken disciplinary action against election officials in other areas for alleged lapses in duty, reflecting tightened monitoring ahead of polling day.

Officials acknowledged that the order is among the first of its kind during an assembly election cycle, highlighting the extent of security concerns in sensitive coastal and tourist-heavy regions.

The move has drawn attention due to its scale, effectively suspending tourism activity across a major holiday belt during a critical election window.