Election Commission’s plan – 500 CAPF companies will remain deployed in West Bengal even after the elections.

New Delhi, 3 April. The excitement for the assembly elections has intensified in West Bengal. Political parties have put their full strength into this election. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has deployed Central Armed Police Forces to conduct peaceful Bengal elections.

Now the Election Commission says that even after the counting of votes is completed in West Bengal, 500 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) will remain deployed to maintain law and order. Even after the elections, CAPF companies will remain deployed in Bengal. This deployment will continue till further orders of the Commission.

It is noteworthy that on March 15, ECI had announced the schedule of general elections for the assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and by-elections for eight assembly constituencies of Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland and Tripura. Under this, voting will be held in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland and Tripura on April 9 and in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra on April 23. Whereas in West Bengal, voting will be held in two phases on 23 April and 29 April.

According to Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, every person employed in any business, trade, industrial undertaking or any other institution who has the right to vote at an election to the House of the People or to the Legislative Assemblies of States/Union Territories or by-election in any Parliamentary/Assembly constituency, shall be granted paid leave on the day of poll.

No employee’s salary will be deducted due to such paid leave. Any employer who violates these provisions will face penalties. All daily wage earners and casual laborers will also have the right to paid leave on the day of voting.

The Commission has also clarified that voters (including casual and daily wage workers) who are employed in industrial or commercial establishments located outside their constituency, but are registered in any of the constituencies where polling is taking place, will also get the benefit of paid holiday on the day of polling, so that they can exercise their franchise.

The Commission has directed all State and Union Territory Governments to issue necessary instructions to all concerned authorities for strict adherence to these provisions and ensure that all voters can exercise their franchise freely and conveniently.