EC Chief Gyanesh Kumar Assures Level Playing Field Ahead of Polls in Five States

EC Assures Free and Fair Polls as Five States Head for Assembly Elections

With Assembly elections announced in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, the Election Commission of India has pledged to conduct one of the most transparent electoral exercises in the country’s history.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar reiterated the poll body’s commitment to fairness, stating that the Commission has “zero tolerance” for any form of violence, intimidation, or inducement of voters. He did not respond in detail to criticism raised by opposition parties.

The Commission has directed both electoral and administrative machinery across the poll-bound states to ensure a peaceful voting process. Strict instructions have been issued to prevent malpractices such as booth capturing and illegal voting.

To maintain neutrality, the EC has taken steps to ensure a level playing field for all political parties. This includes action against officials perceived to be biased and the deployment of 1,111 central observers to oversee the elections. Key administrative reshuffles have also been ordered, covering positions from district-level officers to senior roles such as Director General of Police and Home Secretary.

The move is particularly significant in states like West Bengal, where concerns have been raised about political influence over officials. According to former election officials, such measures are aimed at ensuring that officers can perform their duties without pressure or fear of reprisal.

While parties such as the All India Trinamool Congress have accused the Commission of bias, the EC has maintained that it remains impartial and focused solely on conducting elections in accordance with the Constitution.