The Centre has significantly scaled down the deployment of central security forces in West Bengal, reducing the presence from 500 companies to 150 companies following a marked improvement in the state's law and order situation after the Assembly elections. A senior government official confirmed the development on Thursday, 18 June, noting that the revised deployment plan has already been put into effect.

Background: Why 500 Companies Were Deployed

The Centre had mobilised 500 companies of central forces across multiple phases after the Assembly election notification was issued. Beyond election-day duties, the forces were tasked with confidence-building measures, conducting route marches, and supporting local authorities in maintaining order in violence-prone areas.

Crucially, the large-scale deployment was retained even after polling concluded — a direct response to the widespread post-poll violence that had followed the 2021 Assembly elections in the state. Officials indicated that the intent was to prevent any recurrence of that unrest during the sensitive post-result period.

What Changed: New Government, Improved Situation

Officials said the security situation has improved considerably following the change of government in the state. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has reportedly granted the police administration full authority to maintain peace and take firm action against any untoward incidents. This shift in administrative posture is cited as a key factor behind the Centre's decision to draw down forces.

Notably, the 2025 Assembly elections were conducted in two phases under extensive security cover and were widely regarded as among the most peaceful in recent years. Officials noted that polling remained largely free of major violence, with no significant incidents of political killings, booth capturing, or large-scale clashes reported on polling days.

Nabanna Withdrawal: A Symbolic Signal

Among the most visible signs of the drawdown was the withdrawal of central force personnel from Nabanna, the state secretariat in Kolkata. According to sources at the state secretariat, forces stationed at the Nabanna camp were pulled out on Wednesday — the day before the official confirmation.

Central forces had been deployed at Nabanna immediately after election results were declared on 4 May, with a mandate to secure government records and check the identity cards and bags of employees entering and leaving the complex. After Wednesday morning, personnel were no longer seen at the premises.

What Remains and What It Means

The 150 companies of central forces that remain in West Bengal will serve as a precautionary presence while the state administration consolidates its hold on law and order. The Centre's decision reflects a calibrated approach — acknowledging stabilisation while retaining a buffer against any potential flare-up.

This comes amid a broader pattern of central force deployments in politically sensitive states being reviewed after electoral transitions. Whether the remaining 150 companies are further reduced will likely depend on ground-level assessments in the weeks ahead.