Bengal Assembly Polls 2026: EC Hints at Shorter Schedule Amidst Intense TMC-BJP Standoff
Kolkata, March 10, 2026 — The upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections are likely to be wrapped up in a much shorter timeframe than the previous cycle. According to a report by India Today, the Election Commission (EC) is considering conducting the polls in just two to three phases, a sharp contrast to the gruelling eight-phase marathon witnessed in 2021.
The development follows a high-stakes review meeting in Kolkata, where Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and top poll officials met with representatives from major political parties, including the Trinamool Congress (TMC), BJP, CPI(M), Congress, and AAP, to assess ground preparedness.
BJP’s 17-Point Demand for Central Forces
During the consultations, a delegation from the Bharatiya Janata Party submitted a comprehensive 17-point memorandum outlining severe concerns regarding the state’s security apparatus. The party argued that conducting elections in seven or eight phases is no longer practical or appropriate.
To ensure free and fair elections, the BJP’s primary demands include:
Exclusive Central Security: Deploying only central armed forces to monitor the voting and counting processes, effectively side-lining state police.
Strict Verification: Implementing a double-check system for voters at polling stations.
Sensitive Booths Tag: Classifying historically violence-prone booths, as well as those recording an unusually high turnout of over 85 percent, as “sensitive.”
Secure Counting: Restricting the vote-counting process strictly to district and sub-divisional headquarters.
Mamata Alleges EVM Fraud, TMC Pushes for Impeachment
Simultaneously, the ruling Trinamool Congress launched a fierce counter-offensive against the Election Commission. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee publicly alleged that orchestrated attempts are already underway to manipulate Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and systematically suppress the voting rights of citizens through deliberate discrepancies in voter list revisions.
The political confrontation is poised to escalate further in New Delhi. According to top sources cited by India Today, opposition parties led by the TMC have initiated the process of collecting signatures to move an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Parliament as early as this week.
Addressing the press, the CEC maintained that the ongoing voter list revision is completely transparent, ensuring all eligible citizens are included while barring ineligible entries.
