<p>The Election Commission is considering deploying a record 1000 companies of central forces to ensure peaceful and violence-free polling in the coming Assembly elections in West Bengal, an EC official said on Monday.</p>.<p>The central forces when deployed will work in tandem with the state police during the state poll due in April-May, he said.</p>.<p>The rise in the number of polling booths from 78,903 during the last Lok Sabha elections in 2019 to a probable 1,01,790 now was a reason for considering such a measure, the official told PTI.</p>.<p>This time we are considering deploying 1,000 or more companies of central forces. If we deploy such a large number of forces, this will be a record," he said.</p>.<p>"Since there is a substantial rise in the number of polling booths in the state there will be a proportionate increase in the deployment of central forces," he added.</p>.<p>The EC is also considering considering using a new mechanism in which the central forces will work in close coordination with the state forces in the coming election, he said.</p>.<p>The full bench of the EC visited the state last week to look into the poll preparedness.</p>.<p>The EC official said that there has been a quantum increase in the number of polling booths following the return of a large number of people to West Bengal due to the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>
<p>The Election Commission is considering deploying a record 1000 companies of central forces to ensure peaceful and violence-free polling in the coming Assembly elections in West Bengal, an EC official said on Monday.</p>.<p>The central forces when deployed will work in tandem with the state police during the state poll due in April-May, he said.</p>.<p>The rise in the number of polling booths from 78,903 during the last Lok Sabha elections in 2019 to a probable 1,01,790 now was a reason for considering such a measure, the official told PTI.</p>.<p>This time we are considering deploying 1,000 or more companies of central forces. If we deploy such a large number of forces, this will be a record," he said.</p>.<p>"Since there is a substantial rise in the number of polling booths in the state there will be a proportionate increase in the deployment of central forces," he added.</p>.<p>The EC is also considering considering using a new mechanism in which the central forces will work in close coordination with the state forces in the coming election, he said.</p>.<p>The full bench of the EC visited the state last week to look into the poll preparedness.</p>.<p>The EC official said that there has been a quantum increase in the number of polling booths following the return of a large number of people to West Bengal due to the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>