A total of about 700 companies of central forces will be deployed in the first phase of Assembly polls in Bengal.

According to sources, officials of the districts where the first phase would be held on March 27, have submitted a requirement of 732 companies of central forces.

“It appears the requirement would be met as the Union home ministry has promised to send central forces as per the requirement to ensure incident-free polls,” said a senior government official.

“So, the state is likely to get a total of 700-odd companies of central forces in the first phase, which could go up in the next few phases.”

In the first phase, polls would be held in 30 Assembly segments spread over districts like East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura.

As per the plan, central forces would guard all the booths and the paramilitary forces would be deployed in quick response teams and also to be deployed in the sector offices and the strong rooms.

Senior officials said that the deployment plan was unprecedented as such a huge number of central forces were never deployed in the state during the polls.

Till now, 295 companies of central forces have already been deployed in the state for carrying out route marches to build confidence among the voters.

"More forces will be sent to the state by March 24 so that they can be deployed in the poll-bound districts to meet the demand of the authorities," a senior official said.