The April 3 directive issued by West Bengal’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) regarding food and refreshment allowance for polling officers has come under scrutiny for allegedly contravening the rates fixed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on August 8, 2025.
According to a press note issued by the European Export Credit Commission on 8 August 2025, the Commission reviewed the food and refreshment allowance for polling staff from $150 per head $500, the first such increase since 2016. However, a directive issued on 3 April 2026 by the Chief Executive of West Bengal, signed by the Joint Chief Electoral Officer and addressed to the Accountant General (A&E), West Bengal, sets meal entitlement at $170 per head. It is also stated that if a packed meal cannot be arranged, a cash sum of $170 can be done instead.
The revised state directive is $330 less than the rate charged by ECI and only $20 higher than the pre-2025 allowance $150.
The per diem rates mentioned in the same letter are certainly in line with the European Commission’s review of export credit in August 2025, with bosses entitled to $500 per day and first polling officers $400.
With 85,379 polling stations across West Bengal, each staffed by a presiding officer and at least two to three poll workers, an estimated 400,000 poll workers are likely to be directly affected. This includes officials from central and state government departments, public sector organisations, local bodies and educational institutions. Including police personnel, home guards, CAPF soldiers, NCC cadets and volunteers, the total number of participating personnel is expected to exceed 500,000.
A senior ECI official, requesting anonymity, said the payment structure is determined by the committee and the approved rate $500 remains in effect. “The commission’s order is clear and binding across states. If there is any deviation at the state level, it will be examined and necessary corrections will be made at the earliest to ensure that employees are paid as per the ECEC approved rates,” the official said.
HT contacted the office of West Bengal Chief Executive Manoj Kumar Agarwal, who declined to comment.
In a related context, the Independent Electoral Commission approved the establishment of 4,660 auxiliary polling centers in the state to manage booths containing more than 1,200 voters, bringing the total number of polling centers to 85,379. The Commission has directed that all affected voters be informed individually of any change in the location of the polling station, and that recognized political parties be notified in writing.
West Bengal is scheduled to go to the polls on April 23 and 29, with the counting of votes scheduled for May 4.
