Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that the Central Armed Police Forces would remain deployed in West Bengal for at least 60 days after the Assembly elections and told voters not to be concerned about “Didi’s goons”.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is popularly known as “Didi”, or elder sister.
Ahead of the elections, the Election Commission deployed 2.4 lakh Central Armed Police Forces personnel in the state. About 500 companies, or 50,000 personnel, are expected to remain in place even after polling, according to The Indian Express.
Shah made the remarks while addressing a gathering after a roadshow in south Kolkata’s Behala area on the last day of campaigning ahead of the second phase of polling on Wednesday.
“Do not worry about the goons,” PTI quoted Shah as saying. “Even though the BJP will come to power, central forces will remain here for 60 days.”
The first phase of polling in the state was held on April 23, and the second phase will take place on Wednesday. Votes will be counted on May 4.
दीदी के गुंडों की चिंता मत कीजिए, चुनाव आयोग ने चप्पे-चप्पे पर CAPF तैनात की है।
आज मैं बोलकर जाता हूँ—चुनाव के बाद भाजपा सरकार आने वाली है। फिर भी 60 दिनों तक CAPF यहीं रहने वाली है।
দিদির গুন্ডাদের নিয়ে চিন্তা করবেন না, নির্বাচন কমিশন প্রতিটি এলাকায় CAPF মোতায়েন করেছে।
আজ… pic.twitter.com/lQpFsVGzQa
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 27, 2026 ‘Biking in groups’ restricted during poll phase 2: HC
The Calcutta High Court on Monday partly restored restrictions on motorcycle use ahead of the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, banning motorbike rallies and “biking in groups” from two days before polling, Live Law reported.
Earlier, the Election Commission had imposed on motorcycle riding and pillion travel ahead of first phase of elections in the state. The poll body had stated that motorcycles will not be allowed on the roads between 6 pm and 6 am starting two days before the polling for the Assembly elections. In a directive, the poll panel had also said that pillion riders will not be allowed during the relaxation window between 6 am and 6 pm, except in medical emergencies, for family functions or for dropping and picking up children from school.
On Friday, a single-judge bench of Justice Krishna Rao set aside these blanket restrictions, holding that they could not be imposed without statutory backing.
“In the name of free and fair poll, the authorities cannot pass a blanket restriction on the motorcycle riding,” the judge had held.
The Election Commission had challenged this order, after which a division bench of Justices Shampa Sarkar and Ajay Kumar Gupta reviewed the matter.
On Monday, the division bench said the earlier order required limited modification to ensure free and fair elections. It restored restrictions only on group activities, banning bike rallies and coordinated group riding.
All other relaxations granted by the single judge remain in place, including individual motorcycle use, family pillion riding for essential purposes, and exemptions for office-goers with valid identification as well as gig workers employed with delivery platforms and emergency services.
Read Scroll’s coverage of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections here.
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