Kolkata: The full bench of the EC, led by chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, is likely to visit Kolkata on March 9-10 to review the preparations for the Bengal assembly polls.According to sources, senior deputy election commissioner Gyanesh Bharti on Monday told the DEOs at a virtual meeting that the CEC, along with two election commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, would come to Bengal on March 9. According to convention, a few days before announcing the assembly poll dates, the full bench of the commission visits the concerned state to review the preparations.Bharti, along with other senior EC officials, held a series of video conferences on Monday to discuss poll preparedness with the Bengal CEO, special roll observer, IGs, DIGs, DEOs and SSPs, SPs, state police nodal officer and CAPF nodal officer.According to sources, several key issues were discussed to ensure that the voting process was conducted smoothly and without disruption.“It was clearly stated that an uninterrupted power supply must be ensured at every polling station. Special emphasis was placed on the directive that no polling booth should remain in darkness. Instructions were issued to ensure stable internet connectivity at all polling stations,” said a source.The EC officials directed that webcasting or videography be ensured at all polling booths.
