The Election Commission of India has made a massive security bandobast for the high-voltage by-elections to the six Assembly seats on Wednesday.

The Commission has deployed a total 108 companies of Central Armed Police Force --- about 20 companies more than what was earmarked initially. The CAPF will comprise 40 companies of Border Security Force (BSF), 29 companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 12 companies of Indo-Tibetan Police Force (ITBP), 14 companies of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and 13 companies of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), sources said adding the State police would man the outer ring of the security system.

"All the booths will be manned by the central forces and covered by CCTV camera so there should not be any chance of any malpractices," said an EC official. 

The six Assembly seats that are up for the grab are Sitai and Madarihat seats in Coochbehar and Alipurduar districts of North Bengal, Taldangra and Medinipur in Bankura and West Midnapore districts of Jangalmahal and Haroa and Naihati in North 24 Parganas district north off Kolkata.

All but the Madarihat seat was clinched by the Trinamool Congress in 2021 Assembly elections when there was a considerable wave for the BJP which had won 78 out of 294 seats in that year.

Though the main fight is likely to take place between the TMC and principal Opposition party BJP the by-elections is witnessing a four-cornered contest this time round with the Congress Party contesting separately from the Left Front which has tied up for the first time with the CPI(ML) in Bengal leaving for it the Naihati seat. The Left-backed Indian Secular Front is contesting from Haroa seat.

Apart from the TMC and the Congress ISF is the only party which had won the single seat of Bhangar with the support of the Left in 2021.