The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Kolkata has been turned into a high-security fortress following violent clashes between Trinamool Congress (TMC) and BJP supporters. To prevent further escalation, the authorities have imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS (formerly Section 144) around the premises and installed a sophisticated CCTV network to monitor every movement.

The unrest began over allegations of mass submission of ‘Form 6’ for the inclusion of new names in the electoral roll. TMC workers, led by a BLO association, alleged that BJP is attempting to “hijack” the voter list by smuggling in non-residents from neighboring states. On Wednesday, the situation spiraled out of control when a scuffle broke out over a bag containing hundreds of applications, leading to a police lathicharge and the deployment of central paramilitary forces.

CEO Manoj Agarwal has sought a detailed report from the Police Commissioner regarding the security breach. With the 2026 Assembly polls approaching, the Election Commission has taken direct control of the office security, ensuring that no unauthorized crowds gather near the sensitive zone. While the TMC demands a thorough probe into “illegal entries,” the BJP has accused the ruling party of intimidating voters. As of now, the area remains under tight surveillance, and a probe into the bulk submissions of Form 6 has been officially launched.