West Bengal: Murshidabad to get highest CAPF deployment for Phase 1 polls

West Bengal’s Murshidabad district will see the highest deployment of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) in the first phase of the April 23 assembly elections, with Election Commission of India (ECI) officials citing its history of communal tensions and electoral vulnerabilities as key factors for the move.

The border district, which has a Muslim majority population, witnessed communal clashes in 2024 during Ram Navami celebrations and again in 2025 during protests over the Waqf (Amendment Act). It also recorded the highest number of voter deletions under assessment, with 4,55,137 names marked.

“At least 316 companies of central forces will be deployed in Murshidabad district, which has two police districts. While 76 companies will be stationed at Jangipur police district, 240 companies will be deployed in Murshidabad police district,” a senior ECI official said.

ECI officials said around 2,407 companies of CAPF will be deployed in the first phase. The scale and distribution of powers is based on multiple factors, including past incidents of violence, vulnerability assessments and input from election observers and district administrations.

“This is the highest deployment of CAPF in West Bengal in recent Assembly or parliamentary elections,” said another official.

Data available with the ECI shows that East Midnapore will have the second highest deployment, with 273 companies. The district has reported large-scale allegations of post-poll violence leading up to the 2021 elections.

East Midnapore is also expected to witness a high-stakes contest this time, especially in the Nandigram constituency, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lost to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari in 2021. The Trinamool Congress fielded Pabitra Kar, a former close relative of Adhikari, who recently returned to the party, and was immediately given a ticket.

Other districts with significant CAPF implementation include West Midnapore (271 companies), Bankura (193 companies), Birbhum (176 companies) and Malda (172 companies).

Of the state’s 294 assembly constituencies, polling in the first phase will cover 152 seats across 16 districts on April 23, while the remaining 142 seats will go to the polls in the second phase on April 29. Results are scheduled to be declared on May 4.