Election Schedule Announced for Kalimpong Assembly Constituency in West Bengal

KalimNews, March 16, 2026, Kalimpong: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially announced the schedule for the General Elections to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, 2026, specifically for the 22-Kalimpong Assembly Constituency under Kalimpong District. The election for this constituency will be held in the first phase on 23rd April 2026, covering all 293 polling stations across 251 polling station locations, 

The District Magistrate (DM) and the District Election Officer (DEO) of Kalimpong held a press meet to explain all security measures and election-related arrangements to the public, detailing the steps  taken to ensure a smooth, fair, and secure election process in the district.

The final electoral roll, prepared with 1st January 2026 as the qualifying date and published on 28th February 2026, lists a total of 2,01,931 electors. Of these, 1,00,825 are male and 1,01,106 are female, with no third-gender electors recorded. This number is expected to increase after the disosal of supplementary list which will include names currently under adjudication (6,790 electors).

Among the registered voters, there are 1,370 senior citizens aged 85 and above, and 2,495 young electors aged 18–19. There are 2,509 persons with disabilities (PWD) registered as electors and 1,857 service electors (Male: 1,811; Female: 46) as of 28th February 2026. The gender ratio stands at 1,003 females per 1,000 males, and the EP ratio (electors per polling station) is 0.67.

The complete election schedule for the 22-Kalimpong Assembly Constituency is as follows:

• Date of Issue of Gazette Notification: 30th March 2026 (Monday)

• Last Date for Filing Nominations: 6th April 2026 (Monday)

• Date for Scrutiny of Nominations: 7th April 2026 (Tuesday)

• Last Date for Withdrawal of Candidatures: 9th April 2026 (Thursday)

• Date of Polling: 23rd April 2026 (Thursday)

• Date of Counting of Votes: 4th May 2026 (Monday)

• Final Date for Completion of Election: 6th May 2026 (Wednesday)

The ECI’s announcement ensures that all preparatory steps are clearly defined, allowing political parties, candidates, and voters to plan ahead for a smooth, transparent, and well-organized election process in Kalimpong.

This timely release of electoral data, including detailed voter demographics and polling station information, highlights the Commission’s commitment to transparency and efficient election management, setting the stage for a fair and inclusive voting process in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections.

Ahead of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections 2026 in the 22-Kalimpong Assembly Constituency, comprehensive security and election management measures have been put in place to ensure a safe, orderly, and transparent voting process.

Four companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have already arrived in the constituency, and a route march has been conducted to familiarize personnel with the area and ensure preparedness. In line with election regulations, carrying of licensed arms are banned, and restrictions on the printing of election-related material without following the guidelines are being strictly enforced.

To regulate mobile phone use at polling stations, a mobile phone deposit facility will be provided outside the entrance of each station. Mobile phones are allowed within 100 meters of the polling station only in switch-off mode. Voters must hand over their phones to a designated volunteer, who will issue a pre-numbered token. Voters retrieve their devices after casting their votes, ensuring convenience while maintaining security.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has addressed growing concerns over social media misuse and paid news. Major platforms have agreed to observe the Voluntary Code of Ethics (2019), applicable for this election. All Model Code of Conduct (MCC) provisions also apply to content posted online by candidates and political parties. Parties are urged to ensure supporters do not indulge in hate speech or fake news, and Media Certification and Monitoring Committees (MCMCs) will strictly monitor online content.

Political parties are required to clearly label AI-generated or synthetic content used for campaigning with terms like “AI-Generated”, “Digitally Enhanced”, or “Synthetic Content”. All such campaign material must include appropriate disclaimers.

The District Magistrate (DM) and District Election Officer (DEO) held a press meet to explain all security measures, including CAPF deployment, mobile phone management, social media monitoring, and MCC compliance. They assured voters that all steps have been taken for a fair, secure, and smooth election process.

New initiatives and measures introduced for this election include:

• Election Expenses Limit: Candidates for the Legislative Assembly in West Bengal are restricted to a maximum of Rs. 40 lakhs.

• District Grievance Committee: A committee is in place where aggrieved persons can approach in case of cash seizure.

• IT Applications:

  • ECINET: One-stop digital platform containing all election-related applications.

  • SUVIDA: Single-window application for obtaining all election-related permissions.

  • C-Vigil: Citizen interface for lodging complaints in real-time.

  • ENCORE: Application for filing nominations both offline and online.

  • ESMS: Manages all seizures by enforcement agencies.

• Postal Ballot: Provisions for home voting for senior electors (85+) and persons with disabilities.

• Polling Station Innovations:

  • Counters for depositing mobile phones just outside polling stations.

  • Serial and part numbers displayed prominently in Voter Information Slips for easier verification.

  • 100% webcasting of polling stations.

  • Candidate booths allowed just outside 100 meters of polling stations.

  • Maximum 1,200 electors per polling station.

  • Standard Photo ID cards for BLOs have been issued as per ECI instructions.

• Counting Procedures:

  • Second-last round of EVM/VVPAT counting will not commence until postal ballots are counted.

  • Mandatory re-verification of rejected postal ballots where the victory margin is less than the number of rejected ballots.

  • EVM ballots redesigned for better readability, now with color photographs of candidates.

  • VVPAT counting mandatory in every mismatch between Form 17C and EVM data, or in cases of mock poll errors.

• Polling Day Protocols:

  • Randomization of state police personnel deployed at polling stations will be done in the presence of Police Observers.

  • Presiding Officers must upload turnout data on the ECINET App every two hours to reduce delays in updating polling trends.

  • SST (Static Surveillance Teams) checks will commence from the date of announcement of the election, instead of the notification date.

All major national and regional news channels will be monitored closely for election-related coverage. Any untoward incident or violation of law will be acted upon immediately. Reports will be forwarded to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), whose office will file Action Taken Reports (ATR) or status updates for accountability and transparency.

These measures, combined with robust security, technological innovations, and strict monitoring, reflect the Election Commission’s commitment to conducting free, fair, and secure elections in Kalimpong, ensuring that the democratic process is maintained with integrity and transparency.