The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a directive barring hotels in West Bengal from accommodating non-residents of the local constituency during the pre-poll and polling period.

The order came into effect at 6:00pm on Tuesday and will remain in force until polling ends. The restriction is particularly stringent in coastal tourist areas such as Digha, Shankarpur, Tajpur, and Mandarmani. Tourists and non-locals have been asked to leave these areas by Tuesday evening.