Votes Will Be Counted Only On 293 Seats In Bengal Tomorrow. Here's Why
3 min readKolkataMay 8, 2026 03:48 AM IST The entire Brigade Ground area has been declared a 'No-Fly Zone'. Private drones are strictly prohibited and police will maintain aerial surveillance. Every high-rise building overlooking the Maidan will be manned by snipers and observers. The Brigade Parade Ground is being turned into a fortress for the swearing-in ceremony of West Bengal’s first BJP government on Saturday, May 9, with the police expecting a crowd of nearly 10 lakh people. The ceremony, which coincides with the cultural fervor of Rabindra Jayanti, marks a seismic shift in Bengal’s political landscape following the BJP’s landslide victory of 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly.The oath ceremony, scheduled at 10 am, is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, chief ministers of BJP-ruled states and top NDA leaders. The newly elected BJP MLAs will meet at 4:00 pm on Friday, May 8, to elect their leader, who will be sworn in as Chief Minister. Kolkata Police has sounded a high alert and deployed 4,000 personnel to ensure “zero-error” security. The operations are being personally spearheaded by Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand and under his direction, a multi-tier security ring of Additional Commissioners, Joint Commissioners and DC-level officers will monitor the venue. Additionally, the central forces will be working in tandem with the state police to prevent any post-poll friction during the mega-event. Traffic restrictions and diversions are also likely around the area on Saturday to avoid congestion, police added. A senior Kolkata police officer said that the over 900-acre ground has been divided into around 30 sectors for effective crowd management and security, adding that each of the 30 sectors will be supervised by a police officer of the rank of deputy commissioner or assistant commissioner.Story continues below this ad The entire Brigade Ground area has been declared a ‘No-Fly Zone’. Private drones are strictly prohibited and police will maintain aerial surveillance. Every high-rise building overlooking the Maidan will be manned by snipers and observers. “Given that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are the guests of honour, the Special Protection Group will take charge of protection and Kolkata Police and central forces will ensure no untoward incident occurs,” the police said. Senior officers at Lalbazar, the Kolkata Police headquarters, held a high-level meeting on Wednesday to finalise the security blueprint for the event, which is likely to witness a huge gathering. Door-frame metal detectors and handheld scanners will be installed at entry points, while CCTV cameras will monitor the entire venue. “We are making elaborate arrangements to ensure that no prohibited or dangerous items are brought inside the ground. Surveillance will also be carried out from nearby rooftops,” the officer said. BJP’s winning candidate from Rajarhat Gopalpur, Tarunjyoti Tiwari, said the party is preparing for “a massive gathering of 10 to 11 lakh people at Brigade Ground”. “Every single Assembly constituency will see at least 3,000 supporters travelling to the city. This will be a historic moment that Bengal will witness this Saturday,” Tiwari said during a site review. Sweety Kumari is a seasoned journalist reporting from West Bengal for The Indian Express. With over a decade of experience in the media industry and eight years specifically with The Indian Express, she demonstrates considerable Expertise and Authority across a diverse range of critical beats. Experience & Authority Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express, reporting from West Bengal. Extensive Tenure: Over 10 years of experience in the media industry, with a long association (8 years) with The Indian Express, contributing to a high level of Trustworthiness. Diverse Coverage: Covers crucial beats including Crime, Defence, Health, and Politics, alongside writing on tren
