The Election Commission is set to flood West Bengal with a massive security presence for the first phase of the assembly polls on April 23, deploying 2,407 companies of central armed police forces. A senior official confirmed on Wednesday that the lion's share of these personnel will be stationed in Murshidabad, a district that has remained a flashpoint for political and communal unrest in recent years.
The 294-seat assembly will be contested across two phases, with the second following on April 29 and the final count scheduled for May 4. In this opening gambit, Murshidabad is expected to see 316 companies— 240 in the main police district and 76 in Jangipur. This development comes on the back of a turbulent past in the area, characterised by violent confrontations as a result of the Waqf Act and earlier NRC protests.
Coming close on the heels of Purba Medinipur, which hosts 273 firms, it is an intelligent choice, considering the intense struggle being fought in Nandigram by the Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari. Officials noted that these figures were finalised after a comprehensive "vulnerability assessment" aimed at ensuring voters can reach the booths without facing intimidation.
The deployment also heavily covers the northern and western belts. In North Bengal, districts like Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar will see 92 and 77 companies respectively, while the hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong have been allocated 61 and 21. Further south, significant forces will be diverted to the industrial hubs of Asansol-Durgapur and the tribal-dominated western districts including Jhargram, Purulia, and Bankura.
With campaigning reaching a fever pitch, central forces have already begun route marches in various constituencies to establish a presence on the ground. The Commission has stressed that dividing North Dinajpur into two police districts — Islampur and Raiganj — is part of a broader effort to maintain a tight grip on law and order. According to the EC, the overarching goal remains the delivery of a peaceful and fair election in a state where the democratic process is frequently overshadowed by reports of ground-level friction.
Also read: 'Police-raj will end': Amit Shah targets TMC in Bengal
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