The upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal are likely to see a significant rise in the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). Compared to the past four elections in the state, including the 2016 and 2021 Assembly elections and the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the number of CAPF personnel deployed may double. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, discussed this matter at a meeting led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi.
According to sources from the CEO’s office, the CEO proposed a total deployment of 2,000 CAPF companies for this year’s Assembly elections in West Bengal. This increase is in consideration of the suggestion to conduct the polls in one or at most two phases. In the previous four elections, the average CAPF deployment was 1,000 companies due to the polls being spread across seven to eight phases. However, if the suggestion for a one or two-phase election this year is approved, the requirement will double to 2,000 companies.
The CEO’s office highlighted that a single-phase or two-phase election in West Bengal would have both advantages and disadvantages. On the positive side, it would prevent political parties from moving their supporters between areas, addressing concerns of outsider influence on polling days. Nonetheless, such a condensed election schedule would necessitate a larger CAPF presence, particularly on the polling day. The feasibility of a single or two-phase election largely depends on the Commission’s ability to manage this increased security requirement.
