“I spoke to Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta and pleaded for the forces. We have requested other states also for policemen. The picture will be clear by May 5,” said Home Secretary Ashoke Mohan Chakrabarty on Tuesday.

He added that if no force from either the Centre or any of the states were deployed, it would not be possible for the government to deploy at least two armed guards, as directed by the Election Commission, at every polling booth.

“The chief secretary had asked for 120 companies of Central forces. But we would have been comfortable had we got 150 companies of Central forces,” said Chakrabarty.

The Centre had earlier told the state government that it could not provide its forces to West Bengal because as a policy, it could not allot forces for panchayat elections.

Chakrabarty added that the present contingent of CRPF personnel stationed at Nandigram will not do any election duty. “They have been brought to maintain law and order and they will continue to do that,” he said.