West Bengal: Photographs of candidates displayed in polling booths

Kolkata: Photographs of candidates are displayed in polling booths for the first time in the ongoing West Bengal Assembly polls for voters who get confused if namesake candidates are contesting from the same seat.

"In form 7-A which shows the list of candidates we are also putting their colour photos along with their names and party symbols. This is for additional identification of candidates by voters," Amitjyoti Bhattacharya, Deputy Chief Electoral officer, said.

This list of candidates with photographs is displayed prominently across all polling booths, he said. He said the measure was taken in the state for the first time as also being done on postal ballot papers.

Officials said this would take care of likely confusion when candidates with same or similar names contest from the same constituency.

"For this purpose, all candidates were asked to submit to the returning officer their recent stamp size photographs as per the specifications laid down by the Commission," he said.

However, it was not mandatory for candidates to submit photos. "It was optional, but used widely by all candidates," officials said. The last date of the six-phase polling is May 5, while results will be out on May 19.