The State Election Commission (SEC) has asked district authorities to deploy central forces that have started reaching rural Bengal for various confidence-building measures in the run-up to the July 8 panchayat polls.

Activities mentioned include area domination, patrolling and naka checking.

The directive from the state poll panel has led the Opposition to question whether the forces would finally be used to guard booths on the day of the election — the main demand of the Opposition parties.

In a letter sent to the district magistrates, the poll panel made it clear that 315 companies of central forces should be used for area domination, naka checking and patrolling, among other confidence-building measures.

The poll panel has also asked the district authorities to use central forces for area domination and other confidence-building measures in the areas where political violence has been reported or complaints of threats have been received by the panel or district authorities.

The central forces should also be deployed as a “mobile force” to cover the entire district, the state election commission has said.

Poll panel sources said the order was issued to use the central forces properly for the time being as there is no scope to deploy them for other duties like guarding booths or strong rooms right now.

However, the Opposition parties, especially the BJP, said they suspect that central forces might not be deployed to guard the booths during the election.

“We suspect that central forces will only be kept busy in area domination and naka checking during the panchayat polls as the commission has not taken any initiative to map the vulnerable and sensitive booths. The commission has not yet asked the district magistrates to do a sensitivity mapping of the booths based on the parameters set by the Election Commission of India,” said a state BJP leader.

The issue of the deployment of central forces in the booths has remained a talking point in Bengal’s political circles in recent times. Opposition parties such as the BJP, the Left and the Congress are apprehensive that the district authorities may not engage the central forces in guarding sensitive booths or those where they, and not Trinamul, have a strong presence.

“In these booths, central forces will not be deployed and the Trinamul will indulge in all kinds of electoral malpractices,” alleged another BJP leader. “The order to deploy central forces for area domination activities gives a hint of how the central forces will be used during the polls. This matter will be taken up in Calcutta High Court on Monday,” he added

Poll panel officials said that it was yet to be decided where the central forces would be used during the polls.

“The deployment plan for the polling day will be prepared four to five days ahead of the polls. It will be decided where the central forces will be used while preparing the deployment plan. So, it is not correct to make accusations right now and say that the central forces will not be used to guard the booths,” said an official.