In a significant move ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced the deployment of 480 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) beginning this March. The MHA sent a letter to the West Bengal Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and the Director General of Police, outlining a strategic security blanket intended to maintain law and order well before the Assembly elections.
According to the MHA sources, these forces will be tasked with a wide rage of responsibilities, including area-based patrolling and confidence-building measures among voters.
The deployment is scheduled to take place in two distinct phases to ensure a smooth transition of security duties across the state. The first phase will see 240 companies arrive on March 1, consisting of 110 companies from the CRPF, 55 from the BSF, 21 from the CISF, and 27 each from the ITBP and SSB. This will be followed by a second phase on March 10, bringing in another 240 companies comprised of 120 CRPF, 65 BSF, 16 CISF, 20 ITBP, and 19 SSB companies. Once the election process concludes, the Ministry plans to withdraw these forces in a phased manner, though the specific exit schedule is yet to be finalised.
The state government has been instructed to work in close coordination with the heads of the concerned forces to draft a detailed deployment plan. This outline will determine the specific geographic distribution of the personnel. Each company is expected to function through eight specialised divisions, with six units dedicated to polling station duties, one serving as a rapid reaction team for immediate contingencies, and the final unit acting in a supervisory capacity.
This early mobilisation has sparked intense discussion within political circles, as many observers believe the presence of such a large contingent so far ahead of the polls introduces a new dimension to the state's electoral atmosphere.
Notably, the deployment begins exactly one day after the publication of the final voter list on February 28. While more than a thousand companies were utilised during the eight-phase elections in 2021, the final number of forces for 2026 remains a subject of speculation. If the upcoming elections are conducted in fewer phases, as rumored, the total requirement of forces may differ.
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