An April 3 directive from the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has come under scrutiny for allegedly contravening rates fixed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on August 8, 2025.
According to an ECI press note, the Commission had revised the food and refreshment allowance for polling personnel from ₹150 per head to ₹500, the first such increase since 2016.
However, the April 3, 2026 directive from the West Bengal CEO fixes the meal entitlement at ₹170 per head, which is ₹330 lower than the ECI-mandated rate and only ₹20 higher than the pre-2025 allowance of ₹150.
The revised state directive is expected to affect an estimated 400,000 polling personnel, including officials from central and state government departments, public sector undertakings, local bodies and educational institutions.
An ECI official stated that the payout structure is determined by the Commission, and the approved rate of ₹500 remains applicable.
The ECI has also approved 4,660 auxiliary polling stations in the state to manage booths with more than 1,200 voters, taking the total number of polling stations to 85,379.
