Kolkata, April 21 (IANS) West Bengal Governor R.N. Ravi on Tuesday announced the launch of a 24×7 Citizen Helpline to ensure free, fair, and fear-free elections in the forthcoming two-phase Assembly polls in the state scheduled on April 23 and April 29.

In a statement issued from the office of the Governor on Tuesday evening, the decision to open this 24×7 Citizen Helpline had been taken amid several meetings the Governor had with the public during the last few days, expressing apprehensions over the issue of pre-poll and post-poll violence in the state.

“Quite a few of them also shared their past personal experience of having suffered brutal violence in previous elections, including the killing of family members and kin. Some were forcibly prevented from exercising their voting rights, and those who defied such intimidation were also physically assaulted,” the statement read.

According to the statement, while the state administration and the police, as per the Election Commission of India (ECI), have made elaborate security arrangements to ensure fear-free elections, the Lok Bhavan has established a dedicated 24×7 Helpline to assist the citizens.

“This initiative is to ensure that every voter can participate in the democratic process freely and without fear,” the statement from Lok Bhawan read.

According to it, the helpline will function as a responsive mechanism to receive grievances, make earnest efforts for their prompt redressal and guide citizens towards suitable institutional support.

“All representations will be handled with due sensitivity and utmost confidentiality. All the voters of our state are urged to enthusiastically take part in the most sacred festival of democracy and cast their votes without fail. Every vote is sacred, and it matters,” the statement read.

To recall, Ravi’s predecessor, C.V. Ananda Bose, took a similar decision to prevent violence during the last Panchayat elections in 2023. On his orders, a peace room was opened in the then Raj Bhavan. This peace room was also open during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

–IANS

src/uk