The Union home ministry on Monday informed the State Election Commission (SEC) that it would send 485 more companies of central forces to Bengal for the July 8 rural polls.

However, there was no clarity on whether they would guard booths.

The state poll panel sought 822 companies of central forces from the home ministry after a high court order. Initially, the home ministry sent 337 companies.

“On Monday, the MHA informed that 485 companies will be sent. Now, a detailed deployment plan will be made,” said a poll panel source.

Opposition parties sought central forces in booths for free and fair elections. The SEC hadn't promised anything yet, reportedly because it didn't know the numbers before Monday.

Opposition parties claimed they weren't sure if central forces would be used properly on the poll day.

“The poll panel identified only 4,834 booths as sensitive out of 61,636 booths. Clearly, it did not follow existing parameters to map sensitive booths.... The poll panel is not working independently,” said a state BJP leader.

A Congress leader said as Trinamul did not want central forces during rural polls, it wouldn't allow the SEC to deploy central forces in booths without a court order.

Sources said the poll panel and state government officials held a meeting on Monday over the deployment of forces in booths, where it was decided that armed forces would man booths but it wasn't specified if those would be central forces.

Rajiva PIL

A high court division bench headed by Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam on Monday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the validity of Rajiva Sinha’s appointment as state poll panel chief. The bench observed it was not a PIL as the interest of common people had not been affected because of Sinha’s appointment.