NEW DELHI: The Centre has communicated to the Election Commission that it is ready to provide 85,000 paramilitary personnel for deployment in the upcoming assembly elections in five States including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
The Union Home Ministry came following a request from the Election Commission to make available 1 lakh Central paramilitary personnel for smooth conduct of the Assembly elections likely to be held in the next two months.
At a high-level meeting with the EC officials on Thursday, the Home Ministry has expressed its inability to provide 1,000 companies of paramilitary forces sought by the EC but committed to providing 850 companies for the polls, official sources said.
A company of paramilitary force comprises 100 personnel and a battalion includes 1,000 personnel. The EC relies on the Central forces for the smooth conduct of the election as well as reporting the poll percentage from each booth in order to avoid rigging.
As many as 500 to 600 companies of the paramilitary forces will be required for the conduct of polls in UP where polling is generally held in a staggered manner.
The Central Reserve Police Force is the Lead force for the conduct of the elections and is likely to provide about 200 companies. Likewise, major paramilitaries like the BSF and Sasashtra Seema Bal are likely to spare 60 to 70 companies each. ITBP and CISF are also expected to provide about 50 companies each for the conduct of the polls. The Home Ministry will also rope in 150 companies from the State Armed Police forces and India Reserve Battalions from different states for poll-related duties.
In addition to the Central forces, police forces of all States will also pressed into election duties.
Assembly elections in Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur are expected to be held in single phase but in Uttar Pradesh, it is likely to be held in a staggered manner.
The EC is likely to announce the election schedule within the next few days.