Kolkata, March 23 The Election Commission conducted an online review and training session for district-level election and police officials in West Bengal on Monday, focusing on law and order management, vulnerability mapping, and overall election preparedness, according to a statement.
The session, attended by District Election Officers (DEOs), Superintendents of Police (SPs), and Commissioners of Police (CPs), aimed to strengthen ground-level readiness ahead of the assembly elections, it said.
National-level master trainers provided training on key aspects such as law and order enforcement, vulnerability mapping, expenditure monitoring, and strict implementation of the Model Code of Conduct, it added.
The EC also reviewed preparedness related to polling station facilities, EVM management, logistics, and voter outreach initiatives during the session, the statement said.
Special emphasis was placed on building the capacity of field functionaries to deal with sensitive areas and ensure the smooth conduct of the electoral process, it said.
"The focus remains on equipping district administration and police with the necessary tools and clarity to conduct elections peacefully and efficiently," an official said.
The training exercise follows the EC's earlier direction that elections in the state be conducted in a "violence-free, intimidation-free, and inducement-free" environment.
The EC will also hold a separate training program for returning officers on March 25, the official said.
Polling for the 294-member assembly will be held in two phases, on April 23 and 29. The votes will be counted on May 4.