Election Commission Plans Deployment of 480 CAPF Companies Ahead of West Bengal Polls

Ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India plans to deploy 480 Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) companies in two phases, with the first 240 companies arriving by March 1, 2026. Purba Medinipur, Kolkata, and Malda districts will receive the highest deployments. The Commission is also considering the number of polling phases, with an initial estimate suggesting 2,500 CAPF companies would be needed for a single-phase poll, a decision pending coordination with the Union Home Ministry. The deployment aims to ensure election security and address law and order concerns.