Bengal set to add over 13,000 booths ahead of 2026 polls
A final call on number of booths will however be taken after a meeting between EC officials and representatives of political parties on Wednesday.
A senior official said final booths will be decided on advice of political parties and DMs, following which the EC would issue a notification. The EC had earlier directed Bengal's chief electoral officer to rationalise polling booths ahead of 2026 assembly elections. It has been decided that booths will be set up in multi-storey complexes, slums and community halls, to improve participation.
Sources indicated that the number of booths could increase further based on a special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls by Jan 2026. Data from the 2002 SIR of some assembly constituencies, including Kulpi in South 24 Parganas, have not been traced. As a result, the EC plans to consider the 2003 draft roll for the SIR in Bengal.
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South 24 Parganas, with 31 assembly seats, currently has 8,859 booths. That number is set to rise to 10,410.
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North 24 Parganas, encompassing 33 assembly segments, has 8,658 booths. Its likely to have 10,054 booths following additions.
Meanwhile, the EC has objected to employment of contractual data-entry operators following complaints against some of them. DMs have been instructed against employing casual employees for the roll revision process. The EC has requested 600 staff for roll revision-related tasks. Further, the EC has sought action against four officials, including two WBCS (Exe) officers, and demanded FIRs be lodged against them.
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