EC asks MHA to deploy 2,000 central force companies to ensure peaceful Bengal polls

After nearly five decades, the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections will be conducted in two phases, marking a significant shift in the state’s electoral process. The last time the state witnessed a two-phase Assembly election was in 1977. To maintain peace and law and order during the polls, the Election Commission of India has sought the deployment of more than 2,000 companies of central security forces across the state.

According to information shared by election officials, the Commission has requested the required deployment from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The forces are expected to remain in the state from the polling period until the vote counting scheduled for May 4, with their primary task being to ensure peaceful voting and prevent election-related violence.

So far, around 480 companies of central forces have already arrived in the state and have begun area domination patrols. Their duties include confidence-building among voters, securing polling stations, protecting EVM strong rooms, and maintaining law and order during the election process. Personnel from multiple central armed police forces have been deployed for these responsibilities.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said the decision to conduct the polls in two phases was taken after extensive discussions to make the process more efficient and manageable. While West Bengal will vote in two phases, polling in the other states going to elections this year will be conducted in a single day.