ECI to deploy central forces in West Bengal from March 1

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to deploy cardinal equipped constabulary forces (CAPF) successful West Bengal from March 1, 2026, apt up of the announcement of the docket for the Assembly elections successful the poll-bound State.

About 480 companies of forces volition beryllium deployed successful 2 phases successful West Bengal by March 10. In the archetypal phase, astir 240 companies of CAPF volition get successful the State connected March 1. The remaining 240 companies volition beryllium deployed connected March 10.

Sources astatine the Commission said that the aboriginal deployment of CAPF was a confidence-building measurement for the electors of West Bengal. The deployment of CAPF has often been a taxable of governmental debate, peculiarly owed to the precocious incidence of governmental unit successful the State. Earlier connected respective occasions including during the section polls, the Trinamool Congress has opposed the deployment of cardinal forces.

The missive sent by the Union Home Ministry to the State’s Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and State Director General of Police regarding the deployment of CAPF gives a interruption up connected the cardinal forces deployed connected March 1. In the archetypal signifier astir 110 companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 55 companies of Border Security Force (BSF) , 27 companies of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), 27 companies of Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) and 21 companies of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), volition scope the State by March 1.

In the 2nd phase, the deployment volition comprise 120 companies of CRPF, 65 companies of BSF, 20 companies of ITBP, 19 companies of SSB and 16 companies of CISF.

After the completion of peculiar intensive revision (SIR), the last electoral rolls of West Bengal is scheduled to beryllium published connected February 28. Since the deployment volition beryllium made connected the precise adjacent day, it is not apt that the dates of the elections volition beryllium announced successful the State earlier March 1.

In the 2021 Assembly polls, which was held successful 8 phases, astir 1,100 companies of CAPF were deployed.