Foreign Delegation Reviews Poll Preparedness in Siliguri Ahead of Phase 1 Bengal Elections

PTI, April 22, 2026, Kolkata :  A 13-member delegation from seven countries visited Siliguri in the northern part of West Bengal on Wednesday to observe poll preparedness on the eve of the first phase of the assembly elections on April 23, a senior Election Commission official said.

The delegation, comprising representatives from Namibia, Georgia, Nepal, the Philippines, Gambia, Switzerland and Kenya, accompanied Election Commission officials to the Distribution-cum-Reception Centre (DCRC) at Siliguri College ground, he said.

The team reviewed various aspects of India’s electoral process, including preparations and on-ground management. Representatives from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) were also part of the visit, the official added.

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units were distributed from the DCRC during the day, he said, adding that the delegation also observed the dispatch of polling personnel to different booths and the distribution of election materials.

"The visit is significant in showcasing the transparency of India’s electoral system on the global stage," he said.

The members of the delegation also interacted with polling personnel and expressed keen interest in understanding how elections are conducted efficiently in a country with such a large population.

The second phase of the elections will be held on April 29, and votes will be counted on May 4.