EC deploys additional counting observers

Ahead of the counting of votes in West Bengal scheduled for Monday, the Election Commission (EC) on Saturday deployed an additional 165 counting observers and 77 police observers in the State. While the additional counting observers will assist the 294 such observers already deployed per constituency, the additional police observers will strengthen security and oversee law and order arrangements outside the counting centres, the poll body said.

Officials said that while police observers are generally not deployed during vote counting, in this case, they will not be allowed to enter the counting centres, and will manage law and order outside only. During this period, the Observers shall be deemed to be on deputation to the Commission and will function under its superintendence and control.

Additional counting observers have been appointed to assist the Counting Observers for 165 Assembly Constituencies which have more than one Counting Hall.

According to the poll body, police observers will oversee the security and law and order arrangements around the Counting Centres of the ACs assigned to them and ensure that the security arrangements around the Counting Centres are as per the Commission’s instructions. However, the police observers shall not enter the Counting Hall on the day of counting of votes under any circumstance. The Police Observers will function in close coordination with the Counting Observers and other election machinery deployed for the counting process.

In another key directive, the commission barred all individuals except the counting observer and returning officer from carrying mobile phones inside counting halls. To ensure transparency, Form 17C-II recording results from control units will be prepared in the presence of counting agents and shared with them for signatures.

“Micro-Observers deployed at each table will also independently note down the result from the CU display and handover to the Counting Observer at the end of each round for cross-verification,” the poll body said.

The poll body has deploy nearly 2.4 lakh Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel in West Bengal, marking the highest-ever deployment in a single State during elections. After the completion of polling on April 29, 2026, around 200 CAPF companies will remain stationed in the state to guard Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), strong rooms, and counting centres until the counting process is completed. In addition, 500 CAPF companies will continue to be deployed for law-and-order duties until further orders.

The two-phase polling for the 294 Assembly seats in Bengal took place on April 23 and April 29. The results will be declared on May 4.