The Election Commission of India asked the Bengal government to send an estimate on central forces needed for 2021 Assembly polls, the query coming as a surprise for Nabanna.

An official said it was tough for the administration to ascertain the requirement now as the final voter list was yet to be published and the number of booths not yet fixed.

Electoral roll revision will start from November 18. The final roll is likely to be out by January 5.

“The police directorate will assess the requirement and then only a reply would be sent to the ECI,” said a senior government official.

He termed the letter “a routine exercise”, but other officials felt otherwise as this was the first time the poll panel started deliberations on central force needs so early. According to sources, the ECI sent the letter through the Bengal CEO’s office on Tuesday evening and the letter was sent to home secretary H. K. Dwivedi. “The state was asked to furnish requirements by Wednesday. Till evening, the state hadn’t sent a reply,” said a source.

Some Trinamul insiders said the letter could be the result of the narrative that some state BJP leaders are spinning on the so-called worsening law and order in the state.

“We think that the ECI should not be influenced by BJP leaders but judge for themselves,” a minister said.