EC identifies over 3,600 critical polling stations for 4th phase of Bengal LS polls

In West Bengal's fourth phase of Lok Sabha polls (May 13), 3,647 polling stations are deemed critical, with Bolpur having the most (659). The Election Commission will deploy 579 central forces and over 30,000 state police personnel to ensure security. Similarly, in the fifth phase (May 20), 7,711 critical polling stations have been identified, with Hooghly having the highest (1,787). Critical polling stations are determined based on factors such as political climate, previous voting patterns, and security concerns.

The Election Commission has flagged 3,647 polling stations as critical out of the 15,507 designated for the fourth phase of polling across eight Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal on May 13, a poll official said on Thursday.

Bolpur seat has the highest number of critical polling stations at 659, followed by Birbhum (640), Baharampur (558), Burdwan-Durgapur (422), Ranaghat (410), Krishnanagar (338) Asansol (319) and Bardhaman Purba (301), he added.

Considering the sensitivity of the stations, the poll body has decided to deploy a total of 579 companies of central forces during the fourth phase of polling, he said, adding more than 30,000 state police personnel would also be deployed.

According to the official, a maximum of 152 companies of central forces would be deployed in Bardhaman Purba district, followed by Birbhum (131), Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate (88), Krishnanagar Police District (81), Murshidabad Police District (73), and Ranaghat Police District (54), he said.

Similarly, for the fifth phase of polling in Bengal, out of 13,481 polling stations, the poll body has identified 7,711 as critical, the official added.

The fifth phase of polling is scheduled in seven Lok Sabha constituencies of Bengal - Bongaon, Barrackpore, Howrah, Uluberia, Serampore, Hooghly, and Arambagh - on May 20.

With 1,787 critical polling stations, Hooghly tops the list followed by Arambagh (1,770), Srirampur (1236), Barrackpore (1,059), Uluberia (694), Howrah (605), and Bongaon (550).

According to the commission's rules, the current political situation is also considered before marking a polling station or booth as 'critical'. As per the rules of the EC, if more than 90 per cent voting is recorded at any booth, or if any one of the candidates gets more than 70 per cent of the total votes cast, or if less than 10 per cent of votes were cast in any one booth, then it is considered to be critical, the official added.

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