West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 | CAPF deployment to continue post-counting: EC official

Kolkata: Around 500 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) will continue to remain deployed in West Bengal even after counting of votes on May 4 for post-poll law and order duties, an Election Commission official said on Friday.

An additional 200 CAPF companies will be retained in the state for security of electronic voting machines (EVMs), strong rooms and counting centres, the official said.

"Around 500 companies of CAPFs shall continue to remain deployed in West Bengal for post-poll law and order duties even after the completion of counting, till further orders," the official told PTI.

"In addition to the 500 companies, another 200 companies shall be retained in the state for security arrangements of EVMs, strong rooms and counting centres and remain deployed till the completion of counting," he said.

Each company comprises at least 72 personnel.

The EC had earlier said it might be deploying 2,000 to 2,500 companies of CAPFs for each of the two phases of the Assembly elections to ensure free and fair polling.

"Our only target is to ensure free and fair elections. Around 2,000 to 2,500 companies of central forces may be required in each phase," Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal has said.