NewKerala.com

Bengal Minister Unfazed by Massive Central Force Deployment Ahead of Polls

West Bengal Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay has stated the ruling Trinamool Congress is "fully prepared" and unfazed by the Election Commission's plan to deploy 480 companies of Central Armed Police Forces ahead of the state's Assembly elections. The deployment will occur in two phases, with 240 companies arriving on March 1 and another 240 on March 10, even before the formal election schedule is announced. This comes alongside a Supreme Court decision permitting the Calcutta High Court's Chief Justice to deploy additional judges to verify over 50 lakh objections in the voter roll revision process. The TMC government welcomed the court's directions, calling them a safeguard for the rights of eligible voters.

Key Points: Bengal Minister on Central Force Deployment: "Nothing Will Happen"

  • ECI deploying 480 CAPF companies
  • Deployment in two phases by March 10
  • Supreme Court allows CJI to deploy judges for voter roll verification
  • TMC says it is "fully prepared" for polls
2 min read

'Nothing will happen this time': West Bengal minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay

TMC minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay says party is "fully prepared" as ECI plans to deploy 480 CAPF companies in West Bengal before elections.

"Nothing will happen this time... They sent a lot of people from the force earlier, too. - Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay"

Kolkata, February 26

As the Election Commission of India moves to deploy 480 companies of Central Armed Police Forces in West Bengal ahead of the Assembly elections, state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay asserted that the ruling Trinamool Congress is "fully prepared and unfazed by the development."

Speaking to the ANI, Chattopadhyay said, "Mamata Banerjee assigned responsibility to everyone... Nothing will happen this time... They sent a lot of people from the force earlier, too."

The ECI has decided to station CAPF personnel in the poll-bound state beginning March 1, 2026, even before formally announcing the election schedule. Around 480 companies will be deployed in two phases by March 10. In the first phase, nearly 240 companies will arrive on March 1, followed by another 240 companies on March 10.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal government on February 24, welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to permit the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to deploy additional civil judges with three years of experience and, if required, seek assistance from the Chief Justices of Jharkhand and Odisha for verifying objections under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter rolls in the state.

The directions were issued by a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant after the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court flagged a shortage of officers to verify over 50 lakh objections under the 'Logical Discrepancy' category within the existing timeframe. The High Court had noted that even 250 judicial officers would require approximately 80 days to complete the verification.

The TMC government in the state, in a press release, said that in a significant development before the Supreme Court today, the voters of West Bengal secured critical clarifications and directions safeguarding the rights of eligible electors in the ongoing SIR process.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The Supreme Court's intervention for voter roll verification is the real story here. 50 lakh objections? That's a massive number. Ensuring every legitimate voter is on the list is the foundation of democracy. This process needs to be transparent and above board. 🙏
R
Rohit P
"Nothing will happen this time" sounds a bit casual, no? Elections are a serious matter. The minister's tone should reflect the gravity of the process. We need assurances of peaceful polling, not dismissive remarks. With so many CAPF personnel, hopefully, violence will be minimal.
S
Sarah B
As an observer, the scale of preparation is impressive. Deploying forces from March 1 for a poll schedule not yet announced shows the ECI is taking no chances in Bengal. The collaboration with High Courts of neighboring states is also a smart move for integrity.
V
Vikram M
Bengal elections are always high-voltage. The real test is on the ground. Will people be able to vote without fear? That's what the CAPF is for. The minister's bravado aside, the administration must ensure a level playing field for all candidates.
K
Kavya N
Good that the Supreme Court is involved. Cleaning the voter list is crucial. So many objections mean something was wrong. Hope this revision brings clarity and stops any malpractices. We common citizens just want a fair election, bas.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50