Kolkata, February 26 – According to an initial estimate by the Election Commission of India (ECI), approximately 2,500 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) would be needed if the Bengal Assembly elections are held in a single phase.
The proposal for a single-phase election had been sent from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, in Kolkata, to the ECI headquarters in New Delhi. Although the latter had stated that the final decision on this matter would be made by the Commission.
"Based on the recommendation for a single-phase election, the Commission has made an initial calculation for the CAPF requirement in this scenario. They estimate that 2,500 companies would be needed if the election is held in a single phase. Now, the Commission might discuss this matter with the Union Minister of Home Affairs to determine whether those 2,500 CAPF companies can be arranged, and based on the outcome, the number of phases will be decided," said a source in the Commission.
However, he added that even if a single-phase election is not possible, the number of phases this time would be much less than the last few elections in West Bengal, which were either seven-phase or eight-phase elections.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which were the last major elections in the state, there was an eight-phase election, and then 1,099 companies of CAPF were deployed. In the 2011 West Bengal assembly elections, there was again a two-phase election, and then 725 companies of CAPF were deployed.
The last time there was a single-phase election in West Bengal was in the 2001 state Assembly elections.
The possibility of a single-phase election in West Bengal will have both advantages and disadvantages.
"The advantage is that political parties will not be able to mobilize their supporters from one area to another, thus addressing the traditional complaint of outside mobilization on the day of the election or the day before, which intimidates voters," said sources in the CEO's office.
However, this single-phase election would require a larger deployment of CAPF, especially on the day of the election. "If the Commission can ensure this arrangement, the idea of a single-phase election is quite feasible," said sources in the CEO's office.
