Seeking a “bloodless” and fair election in West Bengal, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Calcutta High Court. A division bench headed by Chief Justice Sujoy Pal is scheduled to hear the matter this Wednesday. The plea specifically demands the deployment of central paramilitary forces in hyper-sensitive zones and mandatory CCTV coverage with videography in all polling booths to prevent a repeat of the 2021 post-poll violence.

The move comes even as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar assured that no voter intimidation would be tolerated during the 2026 polls. Despite the CEC’s stern warnings, reports of attacks on opposition rallies and local clashes continue to surface across the state. The petitioner has urged the court to ensure a fear-free environment, highlighting past instances of arson, harassment of women, and political killings that have tainted the state’s democratic process.