Altogether, 10 companies of central forces will be deployed in Dakshin Dinajpur, 12 companies in Malda, and 8 companies in Murshidabad police district — all bordering districts. Purba Medinipur, which will receive 14 companies, has the highest deployment out of the 240 companies. The district is known as the stronghold of Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari. The 240 companies of central forces will reach Bengal by March 1.
An emergency meeting was held yesterday evening at the WB CEO’s office regarding poll preparedness, law and order situation review, and CAPF deployment ahead of the assembly elections. The meeting was attended by West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal, Special Observer N.K. Mishra, DGP Peeyush Pandey, Kolkata Police Commissioner Supratim Sarkar, IG CRPF Sanjay Yadav, and other officials.
Sanjay Yadav, IG, CRPF West Bengal Sector, has been nominated as “State Force Coordinator” for the deployment of forces during the Assembly Election 2026 in West Bengal.
In a letter dated February 20, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, in communication to the State Chief Secretary, State Home Secretary, and the Director General of Police, informed that a total of 480 companies of central forces will be deployed in two phases for area domination, confidence-building measures, EVM and strong room guarding, and the peaceful and smooth conduct of the polls.
In the first phase, over 240 companies of CRPF, CISF, BSF, ITBP, and SSB will be deployed in Bengal by March 1, and the remaining 240 companies will be deployed by March 10, the MHA letter said.
This will include 110 companies of the CRPF, 55 companies of the BSF, 21 companies of the CISF, 27 companies of the ITBP, and 27 companies of the SSB.
