Kolkata, March 2 (NationPress) The complete panel of the Election Commission of India (ECI), under the leadership of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, is expected to arrive in West Bengal on March 9 to assess the situation following the post-Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state as it prepares for the crucial 2026 Assembly elections.

As per insights from the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) office in West Bengal, the full bench is set to conduct a review meeting on March 10. Should the timeline stay intact, the Commission may reveal the election dates for these pivotal Assembly polls within the week.

In the meantime, a previously scheduled virtual meeting between the ECI, the State Nodal Police Officer (SNPO), and representatives from various central security and investigative bodies has been moved to March 5.

The central agencies poised to participate in the rescheduled meeting include the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), Income Tax Department, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), National Investigation Agency (NIA), and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

This meeting aims not only to review security arrangements for pre-election, election day, and post-election phases but also to enhance collaboration between state and central agencies for the efficient deployment of CAPFs.

Moreover, discussions are set to focus on improving coordination among intelligence and enforcement agencies to mitigate the influence of money, liquor, and drugs during elections, as well as ensuring security in regions adjacent to international and interstate borders.

Earlier this week, the ECI held a virtual meeting with West Bengal's CEO Manoj Kumar Agarwal, Additional CEOs, Joint CEOs, Deputy CEOs, District Magistrates—who function as District Electoral Officers—and Superintendents of Police.

During this session, the Commission reviewed the situation post the final electoral roll publication on February 28 and evaluated the state’s readiness for the upcoming Assembly elections.

In light of a controversy regarding an alleged typographical error in the name of Supreme Court Justice Joymalya Bagchi in the final electoral roll, the Commission clarified that the name's spelling had remained unchanged and was consistent in the electoral roll from the start.

The Commission also asserted that no amendments or adjustments were made to any names during the SIR process.

On the same day, former West Bengal Congress president and five-time Lok Sabha member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury reached out to the CEC, requesting a delay in announcing polling dates until the conclusion of the current judicial review of voter documents categorized under 'logical discrepancy.'

These documents are presently being scrutinized by judicial officers appointed by the Commission, following directives from the Supreme Court.