The Election Commission of India (ECI) has finalized an extensive security deployment strategy for the first phase of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, aiming to ensure peaceful and fair voting. According to officials, thousands of personnel from Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will be stationed across polling booths, with security forces taking direct responsibility for maintaining order and safeguarding electoral processes. This marks a shift toward tighter control, where central forces will actively oversee sensitive polling stations and prevent incidents such as voter intimidation or booth capturing.
The first phase of polling, scheduled for April 23, will witness heightened security, especially in vulnerable districts identified by the ECI. Reports indicate that over 2,400 companies of central forces—amounting to nearly 1.9 lakh personnel—are being deployed to secure polling areas and ensure voter confidence. Additional reinforcements have also been approved to strengthen law and order, with special attention to high-risk zones like Murshidabad. The large-scale deployment highlights the Commission’s commitment to conducting transparent, violence-free elections in one of India’s most politically sensitive states.
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