12 Kolkata: The Election Commission (EC) has deputed its secretary, Sanjib Kumar Prasad to oversee the bypoll at Kaliganj in Nadia on Thursday. He will remain in Nadia until polling concludes. The bypoll is being held following the death of the sitting Trinamool MLA, Nasiruddin Ahamed. His daughter Alifa is contesting as the Trinamool nominee.Although there will be three designated observers—a general observer, a police observer and an expenditure observer—to monitor the polling process on Thursday, Prasad will report directly to the EC. Officials consider his presence at Kaliganj significant as the EC may seek insights into the electoral process in the state, where assembly elections are due within the next 11 months. His report could serve as a background document for preparations ahead of the 2026 elections.There will be live streaming both inside and outside the 309 polling booths, as well as from the vehicles of the central forces and quick response teams. Sources have indicated that the assembly poll process in Bengal may begin in March 2026. Prasad will monitor the deployment of security forces and supervise the control room. A total of 14 companies of central forces have been assigned to Kaliganj.As per EC guidelines, four voters will be allowed inside a booth at a time, said Manoj Kumar Agarwal, chief electoral officer of Bengal. He added that volunteers would be present to assist infirm voters and to manage voters' mobile phones while they cast their votes.