The Election Commission of India has taken strict disciplinary action against all polling staff at a booth in West Bengal's Pingla constituency after they were found to have left the voting booth unattended during the ongoing assembly elections. The incident occurred on April 23, 2026, during the fourth phase of polling in the state.
Details of the Incident
According to officials, the presiding officer and other polling personnel at a booth in Pingla abandoned their post for an extended period, leaving the electronic voting machines and other election materials unsupervised. This breach of protocol was reported by a micro-observer who noticed the absence of staff during a routine check.
The Election Commission immediately ordered the suspension of all polling staff involved, including the presiding officer, and initiated a probe into the matter. The commission also directed the district administration to deploy alternative staff to ensure smooth voting at the booth.
EC's Stance on Election Integrity
The Election Commission has repeatedly emphasized the importance of maintaining strict vigilance during elections to ensure free and fair voting. Leaving a booth unattended is a serious violation of the Model Code of Conduct and election guidelines. The commission has warned that any dereliction of duty will be met with severe consequences.
In a statement, the EC said, "Such negligence undermines the credibility of the electoral process. We have zero tolerance for any actions that compromise the integrity of elections." The suspended staff will face a departmental inquiry, and further action will be taken based on the findings.
Political Reactions
The incident has sparked criticism from opposition parties, who have accused the ruling party of attempting to manipulate the voting process. The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress have demanded a thorough investigation and strict punishment for those responsible. Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress, which is in power in the state, has distanced itself from the incident and supported the EC's action.
Voting in the Pingla constituency proceeded after the replacement staff were deployed. The EC has assured that no votes were lost due to the incident, as the EVMs were sealed and secured.
This is not the first time polling staff have faced action in the current West Bengal elections. Earlier, several officials were suspended for similar lapses in other districts. The EC has increased surveillance and deployed additional observers to prevent such incidents.
The West Bengal assembly elections are being held in eight phases, with the final phase scheduled for May 2026. The results will be declared on May 2, 2026.
