“The EC has zero tolerance towards any form of violence, intimidation or inducement towards any voter,” the CEC is said to have told officials involved in election conduct in four states and one Union Territory. An Election Commission official said several transfers in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam are aimed at ridding the administration and police of elements that have become inflexible. “In states like WB, violence and intimidation have been features of the elections. This cycle has to be stopped,” the official said, adding that the deployment of 1,111 observers is a step in that direction.