An estimated 250 companies of central security and state police forces are expected to be deployed for the forthcoming assembly polls in five states, official sources said on Thursday.
The states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram will go to polls between November 7 and 30, and the votes will be counted on December 3.
Only Chhattisgarh will have polls in two phases, keeping in view the Naxal threat perception, on November 7 (20 seats) and 17 (70 seats).
The sources said the CRPF, the lead internal security force, will coordinate the movement of these forces and the contingents will also comprise other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) like BSF, ITBP, SSB and CISF apart from some special police units of other states.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will deploy an additional 100 companies apart from its units already present in these states, including Chhattisgarh where it has permanently stationed about 25-30 battalions primarily for undertaking anti-Naxal operations.
The other CAPFs and state forces will form the pool for the rest of the units marked for pre-poll deployment to make it about 250 companies in total for the five states that will see elections next month, the sources said.