Nearly 1.5 lakh security personnel, including more than 50,000 from the central paramilitary forces, will be deployed during the Assembly elections in Karnataka on May 12 to ensure free and fair polls, officials said today.

The Union Home Ministry has earmarked around 520 companies drawn from various paramilitary forces like the CRPF, BSF and ITBP to keep strict vigil and ensure peace during the polling process in the southern state.

The central security personnel will assist the nearly a lakh strong Karnataka Police, who will be deployed in every nook and corner of the state during the single-phase polling, a home ministry official said.

The number of the central forces personnel was finalised recently by the Election Commission after a meeting with senior officials of the home ministry.

A company of paramilitary forces comprises about 100 personnel.

Most of the central paramilitary personnel have already reached Karnataka and are in the process of reaching their designated places of deployment, another official said.

Voting for the 224-member Karnataka Assembly will be held on May 12.

A total of around 4.96 crores registered voters will exercise their franchise in around 56,600 polling stations in Karnataka.