Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar on Sunday said he will do everything in his capability to ensure that the Assembly elections in the state are conducted peacefully.

The Bengal elections are scheduled to be held next year, around April or May.

“In a democracy, people must have the right to vote without fear,” he told reporters at Joka, where he had gone to pray at the Swaminarayan temple.

“I will do whatever is needed to facilitate peaceful and fair polls in the state. I am giving my word as the governor,” he said.

“Bengal should be able to set an example before the entire world by conducting free and fair polls, and the administration should work without bias to make that happen,” Dhankar asserted.

“It’s high time that the image the state has projected, with violence and clashes breaking out during polls, should be changed. The police and the administration should work towards that objective in a neutral manner,” the governor said.

Dhankhar had on several occasions voiced concern over the “growing violence” in the state and urged the state administration to act above political considerations.

Later in the day, Dhankar tweeted, “Prayed for peace, harmony and love for people of the State at Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Joka at 11.30 am.”

Reacting to his statements, state education minister Partha Chatterjee said polls had been mostly peaceful in the state.

“The governor, by saying all that he did, is acting in a partisan manner,” he said.