Centre: 1 lakh paramilitary men will be on poll duty

New Delhi: The home ministry is likely to provide nearly 1-lakh Central paramilitary security personnel for the Assembly elections in five states, including politically important Uttar Pradesh, which are expected to held over the next two months.

Sources said initially, the home ministry was planning to provide 700 companies, each comprising 100 personnel, of Central forces but the Election Commission was keen that the number be increased to 1,000. The ministry is likely to accept poll panels request and the two have already had detailed deliberations over the last few days on security deployment during the coming Assembly elections in Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur. Besides, state police force, where elections are to be held, will also be deployed. Sources said while elections in Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur are expected to be held in single phase, while in Uttar Pradesh it is likely to be multi-phased.

The EC is expected to e announce the poll schedule between December 28 and January 4.