No Permission For Victory Processions Today: West Bengal CEO

Kolkata: As West Bengal braces for the high-stakes conclusion of its electoral process, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal said that the Election Commission has ensured the same arrangement at every counting centre, providing a three-tier security for the smooth conduct of the counting process.

Agarwal says, "I have instructed the DM that no permission be granted for victory processions today. Permission will be granted starting tomorrow. Permissions will be issued at police stations; our effort is to maintain peace... This is the first time that no incidents of violence occurred during the elections and today during the counting of votes. I request the people to maintain peace."

Speaking with ANI, Manoj Kumar Agarwal clarified that the EC has not specified any centres as sensitive or non-sensitive, providing equal arrangements everywhere. "The arrangements are the same everywhere, there are no sensitive or non-sensitive counting centres...There is a three-tier security. Besides CAPF, there are the Armed Police and the State Police. All kinds of arrangements are in place. There is no issue at all," he said.

The Election Commission has also requested the power department to ensure an uninterrupted power supply during the counting "Power cuts are not in the hands of Election Commission. It is up to the Power Department. I have made all requests for the Power Department to provide an uninterrupted power supply. Generators are available too, there will be no issue," he said.

The counting of votes in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Keralam, and the Union Territory of Puducherry will begin at 8:00 am on Monday.The process will commence with the counting of postal ballots at 8:00 am, followed by EVM counting from 8:30 am. Round-wise results will be updated in real time on the ECINET platform and the official Election Commission portal.

Exit polls for West Bengal have projected a tight contest on the 294 seats between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress (TMC). While some projections, including Chanakya Strategies and Matrize, have given an edge to the BJP, others suggest a closer fight with TMC retaining a significant share of seats. Smaller parties are also expected to play a limited role in the outcome.