Election Commission Holds All-Party Meeting in Kolkata Ahead of West Bengal Assembly Elections

On Monday, the Election Commission had called an all-party meeting. The full bench of the Commission was present in Kolkata. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was accompanied by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. The Commission said the meeting discussed poll preparedness for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections. Apart from the Trinamool Congress, parties such as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Congress, the CPIM, the BJP, and the Forward Bloc were also present. The Commission's bench heard everyone's views. The Commission claimed that political parties had sought elections in one or two phases in Bengal. Sources said the Trinamool had not commented on the issue. At the end of Monday's meeting, the Commission claimed that most political parties in West Bengal had praised the SIR. It also expressed its full confidence in the Commission. The Commission said that the parties had demanded peaceful, free and fair elections in the state to prevent violence and ensure the safety of voters. In addition, concerns were raised about the use of bombs, firearms, illegal money, and security during the polls.