Kolkata, April 25: Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General G.P. Singh personally led a confidence-building route march of security personnel in Diamond Harbour, South 24 Parganas on Saturday, April 25, signalling the central government's commitment to free and fair polling ahead of the second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026. The high-profile ground presence of the top CRPF officer is widely seen as a strong message to elements that could disrupt the electoral process in one of India's most politically sensitive states.

DG Leads From the Front in Diamond Harbour

The West Bengal Sector of the CRPF shared a video of the route march on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, capturing DG G.P. Singh marching alongside personnel on the ground. The post stated: "Leading from the front! DG CRPF Shri G.P. Singh joined personnel of CRPF, ITBP and West Bengal Police in Diamond Harbour, demonstrating leadership on the ground during Phase-II of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026. His presence among the troops boosted morale, reinforced confidence and strengthened efforts to ensure a secure and peaceful polling environment."

The route march was part of a structured confidence-building exercise aimed at reassuring voters, deterring potential troublemakers, and reinforcing the visible presence of central forces in sensitive polling zones. Diamond Harbour, a constituency in South 24 Parganas, has historically witnessed electoral tension and is considered a high-stakes seat in Bengal politics.

Phase-2 Poll Districts and Deployment Scale

The second and final phase of polling is scheduled for April 29, covering 142 Assembly constituencies out of the total 294 seats in West Bengal. The districts going to polls include Nadia, East Burdwan, Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, and Kolkata — collectively home to some of the state's most densely populated and politically charged constituencies.

A massive security apparatus has been put in place for this phase. A total of 2,348 companies of central forces — comprising Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), India Reserve Battalions (IRB), and armed police units from other states — will be deployed alongside West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police. The highest deployment will be in North 24 Parganas with 507 companies, followed by South 24 Parganas with 409 companies.

Sundarbans Coastal Patrolling Intensified

An insider from the Chief Electoral Officer's office revealed that coastal patrolling has been significantly intensified across the Sundarbans region, which spans both South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas districts. The heightened vigilance is directly linked to the region's extensive and porous coastal boundary with Bangladesh, which has historically raised concerns about cross-border movement during sensitive political events.

The Sundarbans belt has long been flagged by security agencies as a logistical challenge during elections due to its remote waterways, dense mangrove cover, and limited road connectivity — making aerial and boat-based patrolling essential components of the security grid.

Electoral Timeline and Vote Count

Campaigning for the second phase will conclude on Monday, April 28, after which the mandatory silence period will come into effect until polling ends on April 29. The vote counting for all 294 Assembly seats is scheduled for May 4, when results will be declared after multiple rounds of counting.

This election is being closely watched nationally, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) mounting a strong challenge against the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). The deployment of the CRPF DG himself on the ground underscores the Election Commission's determination to ensure that the final phase — covering the most populous districts — proceeds without incident.

Why This Deployment Matters: Bigger Picture

West Bengal elections have a troubled history of poll violence. The 2021 Assembly elections saw widespread post-poll violence that drew national outrage and Supreme Court intervention. The scale of central force deployment in 2026 — nearly 2,348 companies — reflects lessons learned and the Election Commission's zero-tolerance stance. The personal presence of the CRPF DG at a ground-level route march is an extraordinary and deliberate signal: that leadership accountability extends from New Delhi all the way to the polling booth.

With results due on May 4, all eyes will be on whether this unprecedented security deployment translates into peaceful, credible polling across West Bengal's most contested districts.