West Bengal elections and the call for Central forces

It was not the first time central forces were ordered for the conduct of elections in Bengal, at various levels, since the Trinamool Congress came to power in 2011, and the BJP emerged as its main opponent in the state.

Since then, the most brazen incidents of violence were seen in the 2018 panchayat polls, when 34% of the seats were won by the TMC uncontested as the Opposition candidates could not file even their nominations. Besides, 30 people were killed in the run-up to the elections, while polling day saw the killing of another 13, with injuries to around 50.

April 2023

The West Bengal government sought three companies of central armed forces soon after the Calcutta HC directed it to make requisitions for central forces in order to assist the state police in maintaining peace during the Hanuman Jayanti celebrations in the state.

February 2023 bypoll

The Election Commission deployed 30 companies of central forces earlier this year for the bypoll to Sagardighi, a Muslim-dominated seat that had long been a TMC stronghold. The Congress won the seat, thus getting its only MLA in the Assembly. Recently, the sole Congress MLA joined the TMC.

February 2022

Ahead of the February 27 election to 106 municipalities in the state last year, the BJP sought deployment of central forces. On February 25, a Supreme Court Bench presided over by Justice D Y Chandrachud dismissed the plea by BJP leaders Mousumi Roy and Pratap , which had challenged a Calcutta High Court order leaving the decision whether or not to deploy central forces to the SEC.

2021 Assembly polls

At least 125 companies of central security forces arrived in the state ahead of the polls, held in as many as eight phases between March 27 and April 29.

Despite that, hours after results were declared, political violence saw at least eight people getting killed, six of them reportedly BJP workers.

In its final report on the post-poll violence, an NHRC committee said there was “law of the ruler” rather than “rule of the law”. The NHRC recommended the deployment of Central forces in the state. “Forces should be deployed in all the villages from where five or more complaints have been received (relating to murder, rape, grievous hurt, vandalism of homes, etc),” it said.

October 2021 bypolls

Ahead of the bypolls to Gosaba, Kardaha, Dinhata and Shantipur Assembly seats —80 companies of central forces were deployed.

2019 Lok Sabha polls

Ahead of the first phase of elections in the state, 49 companies of central paramilitary forces were deployed. A total of 350 companies were posted in the state at the time.

2016 Assembly polls

About 30 companies were deployed in West Bengal after the dates of the 2016 Assembly polls were declared.