New Delhi, March 12 -- The Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided that police observers appointed by the commission will determine the deployment of both Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and state police personnel in the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections.

The move will significantly reduce the role of the district administration and local police leadership in deciding the movement of security forces.

The decision came after the Commission's full bench completed a two-day review visit to West Bengal to assess poll preparedness.

According to senior EC officials, "The step was taken after reviewing incidents of election-related violence in past elections in the state and following requests from several political parties to...