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Centre-State Deal Caps TSR Deployment at 10 Companies in Assam, WB

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, Agartala
  • Mar 22, 2026
  • 644

In a significant move to bolster electoral security in West Bengal and Assam, the Centre has decided to deploy personnel from the Tripura State Rifles (TSR), a force widely regarded for its operational efficiency and election-duty experience.

However, the decision has been calibrated in view of simultaneous electoral commitments within Tripura. Following multiple rounds of deliberations between the Centre and the state government, a consensus was reached to deploy a limited contingent rather than the originally proposed strength.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had initially requisitioned 25 TSR companies. Citing internal security concerns due to impending elections, the state expressed its inability to spare such a large number. A middle-ground arrangement was subsequently finalised, restricting the deployment to 10 companies comprising 778 personnel.

As per the operational plan, these 10 companies will be reorganised into two ad hoc battalions, each consisting of five companies. One battalion will be stationed in Assam, while the other will be deployed in West Bengal. The units will function under the command of senior officers Amarjit Debbarma and Alok Bhattacharjee.

With a proven track record of providing election security across more than a dozen states, TSR is expected to play a pivotal role in maintaining law and order in coordination with central forces during the polling process.

The election schedule has already been announced by the Election Commission of India. Assam, with its 126 विधानसभा seats, will go to polls in a single phase on April 9. West Bengal, which has 294 seats, will conduct voting in two phases on April 23 and April 29. The counting of votes for both states is scheduled for May 4.

The scaled-down deployment comes against the backdrop of crucial elections within Tripura itself. The state is set to hold a by-election in the Dharmanagar Assembly constituency on April 9, followed by elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) on April 12.

Given these parallel commitments, the state government had raised concerns that releasing a larger contingent could strain local law enforcement and disrupt internal security arrangements.

The final decision reflects a pragmatic balance between national electoral priorities and regional security imperatives—underscoring a coordinated approach between the Centre and the state to ensure smooth and secure conduct of elections across multiple jurisdictions.