Day after voter list release, central boots to be on ground in Bengal

KOLKATA: The Centre will be sending 480 companies — about 35,000 personnel — to Bengal for area domination and confidence-building measures even before the 2026 assembly polls are announced.

Half of them will arrive on March 1, the day after the publication of the state’s first voters’ list.The count is four times the number sent before the 2021 state polls, and is by far the highest pre-poll deployment of central forces in Bengal.The 2021 assembly polls had witnessed the largest deployment of central forces in Bengal with 1,100 companies manning the eight phases. That year, weeks before the election schedule was announced, about 125 companies were sent to the state.

Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, 150 companies of CAPF were sent while a total of 1,000 companies were on the ground for the seven-phase election.The latest MHA missive to Bengal govt seeking logistic help to station and deploy the forces did not spell out any reason for such a massive pre-poll deployment. It said, “In pursuance of the Election Commission of India (ECI)’s communication dated 20.02.2026, it has been decided to initially deploy 480 Coys of CAPFs for area domination, confidence building measures, poll day duties, and guarding of EVM/strong rooms.

”Sources said retired IPS officer N K Mishra, who was appointed special observer for Bengal on Feb 13, visited the state last week and provided his preliminary security assessment to the EC.A senior EC official said, “We requisitioned the central forces for pre-poll preparations. The forces will be deployed from March 1 mainly for confidence-building measures among electors. They will familiarise themselves with the ground situation before being posted on poll duties.”The

deployment and movement of the central forces will be decided at a meeting at the Bengal CEO’s office on Monday, the sources said.

CEO Manoj Agarwal, special observer Mishra, the Bengal DGP, Kolkata police commissioner, ADG (law and order), state police nodal officer and the CISF nodal officer are expected to attend the meeting that will focus on route marches, identification of sensitive booths, deployment strategy and coordination among different agencies.According to the MHA note, the 240 companies — having no fewer than 72 personnel each — to be deployed by March 1 will include 110 companies of CRPF and 55 companies of BSF. The rest of the units will be from the CISF, ITBP and SSB. The second phase of the deployment involving another 240 companies by March 10, will include 120 companies of CRPF, 65 companies of BSF and the remainder from CISF, ITBP and SSB.Personnel from RPF or other state police forces will not be deployed for pre-poll duties.CRPF IG Sanjay Yadav has been appointed state coordinator for CAPF deployment. Yadav will finalise the deployment pattern in consultation with the Bengal CEO and DGP. The MHA has also requested a daily “SITREP (situation report) about the movement of the forces” by 10 am starting Feb 27. The March 1 to March 10 deployment window is also the time-frame in which the election schedule for the state is likely to be announced, a senior state official said.