480 Central Forces Companies In West Bengal From March
21 Feb 2026 4:45 PM IST21 Feb 2026 4:45 PM IST
The ruling Trinamul Congress however questioned the decision of Amit Shah's ministry much before the announcement of the polls while BJP defended it
It also conveyed the troops' dispatch and deployment plan, which will be in two phases each comprising 240 companies, in a letter to state chief secretary Nandini Chakravorty on Friday amid the Election Commission’s special intensive revision (SIR) of the voters’ list here. — Internet
Kolkata: The Union home ministry has decided to send 480 companies (coys) of Central forces for “initial deployment" for area domination, confidence-building measures and other election-related duties in poll-bound West Bengal from March 1. While the ruling TMC questioned the Central forces deployment even before the announcement of the Assembly elections, the BJP defended the move.
Amid the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of the voters’ list in West Bengal, the Union home ministry, in a letter to state chief secretary Nandini Chakravorty on Friday, conveyed the troops' dispatch and deployment plan, which will be in two phases—each comprising 240 companies.
The ministry of home affairs (MHA) letter stated, “In pursuance of the Election Commission's communication dated February 20, it has been decided to initially deploy 480 Coys of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) for area domination, confidence-building measures, poll-day-related duties, guarding of EVM/strongroom centres and counting centre arrangements, etc. during the election process in the state of West Bengal…”
The MHA added that 240 companies of Central forces will be deployed from March 1 in the first phase. These include 110 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) companies, 55 Border Security Force (BSF) companies, 21 Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) companies and 27 companies each from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
The second phase of deployment, according to the MHA, will start on March 10. It will include another 120 CRPF companies, 65 BSF companies, 16 CISF companies, 20 ITBP companies and 19 SSB companies.
In the letter, the MHA also asked the West Bengal government to work out the detailed deployment plan in consultation with the respective CAPFs and chief force coordinator.
"The movement and deployment of CAPFs shall be coordinated by the CRPF. Out of 9 sections of a coy of CAPFs, 8 sections shall be utilised for deployment at polling stations and for other duties, while the remaining 1 section shall be deployed in QRT duties, under the Coy Commander,” the letter said.
Reacting to the development, TMC state vice-president Joyprakash Majumdar said, “The EC can deploy the Central forces in the state after the announcement of the polls but not a day or hour before that because an elected government exists then and there is a Federal structure which allows the state government to supervise the law and order situation.”
Majumdar added: “It is not clear why such a step has been taken in the name of area domination. If that is the case, it will set a trend to deploy Central troops long before the polls.”
Countering the TMC charge, BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar pointed out, “The Central force deployment is aimed at maintaining peace and removing fears among the voters ahead of and during the polls."
The ministry of home affairs (MHA) letter stated, “In pursuance of the Election Commission's communication dated February 20, it has been decided to initially deploy 480 Coys of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) for area domination, confidence-building measures, poll-day-related duties, guarding of EVM/strongroom centres and counting centre arrangements, etc. during the election process in the state of West Bengal…”
The MHA added that 240 companies of Central forces will be deployed from March 1 in the first phase. These include 110 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) companies, 55 Border Security Force (BSF) companies, 21 Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) companies and 27 companies each from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
The second phase of deployment, according to the MHA, will start on March 10. It will include another 120 CRPF companies, 65 BSF companies, 16 CISF companies, 20 ITBP companies and 19 SSB companies.
In the letter, the MHA also asked the West Bengal government to work out the detailed deployment plan in consultation with the respective CAPFs and chief force coordinator.
"The movement and deployment of CAPFs shall be coordinated by the CRPF. Out of 9 sections of a coy of CAPFs, 8 sections shall be utilised for deployment at polling stations and for other duties, while the remaining 1 section shall be deployed in QRT duties, under the Coy Commander,” the letter said.
Reacting to the development, TMC state vice-president Joyprakash Majumdar said, “The EC can deploy the Central forces in the state after the announcement of the polls but not a day or hour before that because an elected government exists then and there is a Federal structure which allows the state government to supervise the law and order situation.”
Majumdar added: “It is not clear why such a step has been taken in the name of area domination. If that is the case, it will set a trend to deploy Central troops long before the polls.”
Countering the TMC charge, BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar pointed out, “The Central force deployment is aimed at maintaining peace and removing fears among the voters ahead of and during the polls."
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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