The decision was announced late Friday, highlighting the ECI’s proactive stance against violence witnessed in recent polls. Currently, 480 CAPF units are already on the ground. After the final phase ends on April 29, 200 companies will secure electoral assets like EVMs and strong rooms through counting day.

To curb post-poll chaos—reminiscent of 2021 and 2024 incidents—another 500 CAPF companies will linger until further orders. The balance of 1,700 units will return home post-polling.

West Bengal’s administration has been tasked with crafting a comprehensive deployment strategy, covering everything from transport to housing, in tandem with security agencies. CRPF will oversee CAPF logistics, led by IG Shalbh Mathur as the nodal officer.

This mammoth exercise reflects lessons learned from past unrest, aiming to shield democracy from intimidation. With elections around the corner, all eyes are on how this force will be distributed across volatile districts. The ECI’s message is clear: no room for lawlessness.

Stakeholders hope this will boost voter confidence, particularly in areas prone to booth capturing and clashes. A secure poll process could set a benchmark for other states facing similar challenges.

This decision emerged from a high-stakes meeting Tuesday between CEO Manoj Kumar Agarwal and the ECI chiefs at their New Delhi office. The visit aims to gauge preparedness on the ground.

The itinerary includes intensive sessions with the CEO’s team, encompassing additional, joint, and deputy CEOs, alongside DEOs. The focus will be on post-SIR developments and logistical hurdles for the upcoming polls.

Expect the announcement of election dates soon after, with insiders confirming a first-week-of-March reveal, as directed in the capital.

A key debate centered on phasing: Agarwal pushed hard for a unified single-phase election, contingent on robust CAPF support. The ECI nodded to limiting phases to three maximum, though no final call was made.

West Bengal hasn’t seen a single-phase assembly vote since 2001; recent elections have dragged across multiple phases. Opting for fewer phases could boost efficiency but demands meticulous planning amid the state’s volatile politics.

As Bengal’s political heavyweights gear up, this ECI oversight visit highlights the commission’s proactive stance in preempting poll-related issues and upholding democratic integrity.

Addressing the media, Adhikari didn’t mince words: ‘Issuing notices isn’t enough. Bengal’s citizens crave real action from the ECI, not empty words. Enough with the lectures—deploy forces now!’ He demanded immediate deployment of CAPF personnel at all verification sites, reminding the Commission of its constitutional authority to act unilaterally, including mobilizing the army if circumstances warrant.

The allegations aren’t isolated. BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya recently echoed similar sentiments, calling out the ECI’s perceived favoritism towards TMC and pressing for a CEC fact-finding visit to the state.

In a intriguing forecast for the year-end Assembly polls, Adhikari suggested a potential minority voter shift: ‘They might skip BJP, but TMC is off their list too this time.’ This statement could indicate cracks in TMC’s traditional support base, fueled by governance issues and alleged electoral malpractices.

With the SIR process under scrutiny, Adhikari’s provocative stance amplifies BJP’s narrative of a biased poll machinery. As the revision drive continues, the ECI faces mounting pressure to restore credibility and ensure unhindered democratic exercise in this politically charged state.