The Election Commission of India is set to deploy 697 companies of central forces during the second phase of Bengal polls on April 1.

Thirty Assembly constituencies, including Nandigram in East Midnapore where chief minister Mamata Banerjee is pitted against her former protégé and now BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, will go to polls in the second phase.

The 30 Assembly segments which would go for polls in the second phase are spread over four districts — East and West Midnapore, Bankura and South 24-Parganas.

In the first phase on March 27, again where 30 Assembly segments had voted, the EC had deployed 730 companies.

“A total of 636 companies of central forces will be deployed to guard the booths and other related activities on poll day. The remaining 61 companies will be used as security cover for teams carrying postal ballots to voters aged above 80 and the physically challenged voters and provide security to the strongrooms,” said a source.

According to sources,189 companies of central forces would be deployed for nine Assembly seats to go for polls in the second phase, in East Midnapore. Similarly, 198 companies will be deployed for nine Assembly seats in West Midnapore, 161 companies for eight Assembly seats in Bankura and 89 companies for four Assembly seats in South 24-Parganas.

The state police will deploy more than 100 inspectors and 300-odd sub-inspectors in the second phase.

The central forces will guard polling premises and the area within 100-m radius of each polling station. The state police will maintain the law and order in the rest of the areas.

Sources in the EC said as all booths would be guarded by the central forces, the deployment of so many companies of central forces was needed.

Officials said the huge deployment in the first phase was somehow justified as it included Jhargram, Bengal’s only district considered Maoist-hit by the Centre.

“But as there is no Maoist-hit district in the second phase, the deployment (of 697 companies) could be considered huge,” said a senior government official.

“The overall peaceful polling in the first phase has encouraged the EC to deploy all its resources to hold polls peacefully in the next phases too,” said a source.