Journalism of Courage
West Bengal Assembly polls: Kolkata Police ban victory processions on result day
Celebrations can be held only from May 5 with permission.
Scenes at a counting centre in Kolkata. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)
The Kolkata Police have banned victory processions, rallies, and public celebrations within their jurisdiction on the day of counting for the West Bengal Assembly polls on Monday.
“Victory processions, if any, may be conducted on 5th May, 2026, or thereafter, only after obtaining prior permission from the Officer-in-Charge of the concerned Police Station. All such permitted processions shall strictly adhere to the prevailing rules and guidelines and the conditions imposed in the permission,” the order, signed by Commissioner of Police Ajay Nand, stated.
The Kolkata Police warned that any violation of the directive will result in legal action. Officers-in-charge across police stations in the city have been instructed to remain vigilant to ensure total compliance with the order.
With the dust finally beginning to settle on the 2026 Assembly polls, all eyes are now fixed firmly on West Bengal’s counting centers.
The ECI has sanctioned a total of 432 Counting Officers (COs) to oversee the state’s 293 constituencies. The election to the Falta seat in the South 24 Parganas district has been countermanded, and fresh elections there will be held later in the month.
The North 24 Parganas, which has 33 Assembly constituencies, has the highest number of observers at 49, including additional observers for several areas such as Bidhannagar and Rajarhat New Town. The South 24 Parganas follows with 45 observers. Murshidabad has 33 observers for its 22 constituencies, while districts like Howrah and Nadia have 25 observers each. In a rare move, every single Assembly constituency in Uttar Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, and Darjeeling in North Bengal has been assigned additional observers.
Sixty uniformed men, drawn from CAPF and the Kolkata Police, are doing the rounds of each of the 22 strong rooms across the seven counting centres in Kolkata.
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Early counting trends for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections indicate a significant shift, with the BJP crossing the halfway mark in early leads. As of 10.15 am, the BJP is leading in roughly 174 seats, while the Trinamool Congress is leading in 102.
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