ECI '2.5k CAPF companies needed if Bengal polls are held in single phase'

Around 2500 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will be needed if the Bengal Assembly polls are held in single phase, according to initial estimate by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The proposal for a single- phase poll had gone to the ECI’s headquarters in New Delhi from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, in Kolkata, though the latter had maintained that the final decision in this matter would be taken by the



Commission.

“Based on the recommendation for a single-phase poll, the Commission made an initial calculation for the CAPF requirement in case of that eventuality and had estimated that 2,500 companies would be required in case of a single-phase. 

Now, the Commission might take up the matter with the Union Minister of Home Affairs on whether those 2,500 companies of CAPF could be arranged or not, and based on the outcome, the number of phases would be decided,” said source in the Commission.