The Election Commission of India will use the history of election-related violence in West Bengal over the last seven elections as a key factor in deciding the deployment of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) for the 2026 Assembly polls. These seven elections include the Lok Sabha polls in 2014, 2019, and 2024, state Assembly elections in 2016 and 2021, and panchayat system polls in 2018 and 2023.
The Election Commission has requested police station-wise reports on the violence records from these elections and details of casualties. The Commission has also asked for reports on the current status of history-sheeters in the matter.
Based on the assessment of these reports, the Election Commission will determine the number of CAPF companies to be deployed for the upcoming Assembly polls and their distribution based on the sensitivity of areas and polling booths. The expected CAPF deployment for the 2026 elections is anticipated to be higher than in previous polls.
Discussions on this matter took place at a meeting in New Delhi chaired by the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, with CEOs from all states and a union territory in attendance. The possibility of conducting the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls in a single or two phases was considered, with its advantages and disadvantages.
A single or two-phase election could prevent outsider mobilization by political parties but would require a significant CAPF presence on polling day. The ongoing Special Intensive Revision in West Bengal is set to conclude with the final voters’ list publication on February 14, after which the polling dates for the Assembly elections are expected to be announced.
