EC pulls up officials for not setting up booths in pvt housing societies

Directs Bengal CEO to take action against DMs over delay in sending polling station proposals

- SUBHENDU MAITI @Kolkata

THE Election Commission (EC) has pulled up the district magistrates (DMs), who function as district electoral officers (DEOs), in West Bengal for sitting on its proposal to set up polling stations inside private housing complexes with high-rise buildings.

The EC has sent a letter to state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal on December 10, directing him to take immediate steps in this regard.

The national poll body had directed the DEOs to conduct an extensive survey for setting up of new polling stations in high-rise buildings, group housing societies or RWA colonies that have common facilitation area or community halls at ground floor within the premises and in slum dwelling clusters of urban areas. DEOs shall finalise the proposal of new polling stations and obtain the Commission’s approval, according to a guideline of the Election Commission.