"No Polling Booths in Madrasas" – Subhendu Adhikari's Demand to Election Commission

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, May  8,  2025, Kolkata : A delegation of BJP leaders from West Bengal, led by the party's opposition leader Subhendu Adhikari, recently met with the state’s Chief Electoral Officer to present their concerns regarding the upcoming assembly elections. One of the primary demands made by Adhikari was that no polling booths should be set up in madrasas across the state. The opposition leader also called for additional booths to be established in areas where Hindu voters might have to pass through Muslim-majority neighborhoods to cast their ballots.

Speaking to the media after his meeting with the Electoral Officer, Adhikari raised concerns about the safety and security of Hindu voters in areas such as Mothabari, Samserganj, and Dhulian. "In these regions, Hindus are feeling unsafe traveling through Muslim-majority areas to vote, and this has been a recurring issue in previous elections," Adhikari stated. He further expressed that the presence of polling booths in madrasas, particularly in such mixed or Muslim-majority areas, makes Hindu voters vulnerable to potential attacks, citing incidents that occurred during the 2021 and 2024 elections.

The BJP leader’s comments highlight what he described as a perception of insecurity among Hindu voters in certain regions. "We have seen this in Mothabari, Samserganj, and Dhulian. Hindus fear they will be targeted if they pass through Muslim neighborhoods to reach polling stations," he asserted. Consequently, Adhikari called for a change in the locations of the polling booths currently set up in madrasas. He further urged the Election Commission to consider setting up additional booths in areas where voters would otherwise have to travel through areas they perceive as unsafe.

While the Election Commission has yet to respond to these demands, Adhikari's statements reflect ongoing concerns about election security and voter access in areas with mixed or polarized communities. The Commission is expected to take these issues into consideration as preparations for the upcoming elections continue.