Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar visited the Kalighat Temple in Kolkata, accompanied by West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agrawal, amidst a protest by several people gathered outside.
Security personnel managed a crowd of demonstrators waving black flags as Kumar reached the temple premises.
Kumar offered prayers and expressed hope for peaceful elections, while Subrata Gupta, Special Roll Observer, emphasized the importance of democracy and the right to protest.
The visit comes as West Bengal prepares for assembly polls in the first half of this year, with the ruling Trinamool Congress facing a challenge from the Bharatiya Janata Party.
