Poll panel urges Centre for forces deployment ahead of Maha, J'khand polls

EVEN though the poll schedules have not been announced yet, preparations for the next round of assembly elections have begun. The Election Commission of India (EC) has urged the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for pre-poll advance deployment of the Central Armed Police Forces (CRPFs) in Jharkhand and Maharashtra.

- MUKESH RANJAN @ New Delhi

As the two states are gearing up for the assembly elections most likely to be held in November-December, the EC has made a request for initial deployment of 100 companies of the CAPFs in Jharkhand and the direction for the same has been given to the forces, the officials said.

The forces are being sent to Naxal violence-affected Jharkhand with an aim to ensure area domination, confidence-building measures, conduct of flag marches and surveillance to ensure smooth conduct of polling, they said, adding that the first batch of 100 companies of the CAPFs would reach Jharkhand by October 14.