Election Commission Imposes Strict Hotel Restrictions and Outsider Ban Ahead of High-Stakes West Bengal Assembly Polls

The Election Commission has launched a sweeping security crackdown across West Bengal, directing hotels to deny accommodation to any individuals who are not local residents of their respective constituencies during the critical pre-poll window. Effective from 6 pm on Tuesday until the conclusion of polling on Wednesday, the mandate serves as a precursor to the first phase of the assembly elections. This directive has been strictly enforced across the coastal tourist belt of Digha, Shankarpur, Tajpur, and Mandarmani, where authorities have clarified that only residents of the concerned Assembly constituency are permitted to stay. East Midnapore District Magistrate and District Election Officer Niranjan Kumar confirmed that these destinations fall within the Ramnagar Assembly constituency, affirming that no outsiders except residents will be allowed and that all district hotels must deny accommodation to non-residents as per official guidelines.

The administrative lockdown extends well beyond the coast into the Jalpaiguri district, where police have issued formal notices to hotels citing Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the Election Commission’s 72-hour Standard Operating Procedure. These notices explicitly direct that no outsider be present in hotels during the final 48 hours before polling. However, this rigorous implementation has triggered deep concern among hospitality stakeholders, leading the Greater Siliguri Hotelier Welfare Association to seek clarity from the CEO. While the association respects the Model Code of Conduct and the necessity for heightened security, it flagged severe operational challenges, noting that evicting guests causes significant distress to both hoteliers and visitors. The hoteliers highlighted legal and logistical complications involving family functions, corporate events, and online bookings made months in advance, earnestly requesting clarification on whether a formal notification exists for total hotel evacuations in Siliguri.

Under the Model Code of Conduct, guidelines provide for restrictions on the presence of outside political functionaries and party workers during the final 48 hours to prevent undue influence and maintain a level playing field. District and police administrations are currently tasked with checking community halls, lodges, and guesthouses to identify and track outsiders; however, the broad extension of these restrictions to all non-residents has raised questions regarding interpretation and proportionality. These measures coincide with an extended liquor ban, which was stretched from the usual 48 hours to 96 hours starting Sunday, and a curtailment of motorbike movement from 6 pm to 6 am for two days before the April 23 polling, excluding emergencies. As the state prepares for the two-phase election on April 23 and April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4, these unprecedented restrictions underscore the intense security environment surrounding the Bengal polls.