In a significant move to maintain law and order, the administration has imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (formerly Section 144) around the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office in Kolkata. The decision comes in the wake of escalating tensions between political parties over the ‘Form-6’ voter enrollment controversy. Following intense protests and the threat of large-scale unrest, authorities have banned any assembly of five or more people and prohibited the carrying of weapons or inflammatory banners in the designated area.

The vicinity of the CEO office has been turned into a virtual fortress with multiple layers of barricades and heavy police deployment, including Rapid Action Force (RAF) units. “The measure is preventive, aimed at ensuring that the administrative work of the election commission continues without disruption,” stated a senior police official. As both the TMC and BJP continue to trade charges of electoral malpractice, the administration is leaving no stone unturned to prevent the city from witnessing a major clash. The imposition of these restrictive orders has further intensified the political standoff in the heart of Kolkata.