CRPF chief GP Singh has visited several camps of the paramilitary force across Kolkata and neighbouring areas in the past few days to review the CRPF’s poll preparedness ahead of the Assembly elections in West Bengal, which are scheduled to be held in two phases on April 23 and 29.Singh, who has been stationed in Kolkata since almost a week, on Monday visited several CRPF camps located in the city and supervised the preparations regarding poll duty of his personnel.The development is being seen as unprecedented, since this level of monitoring personally by a chief of a paramilitary force and the deployment of around 2,400 companies (approximately 2.4 lakh personnel) of all combined Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) is akin to the kind of arrangements, which are normally seen in a disturbed area.Sources privy to details said that the fact that chief of all major paramilitary forces namely CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP and SSB held a brainstorming session in Kolkata on April 18 in connection with poll preparedness was something that has not been witnessed in the recent past in any of the poll-bound state(s).Heads of five key CAPFs meeting under one roof and holding deliberations regarding preparations of elections for a single state, raised eyebrows among several stakeholders, terming the development as one of its kind in recent memory.Even the deployment of more than 2 lakh CAPFs personnel in an election-bound state, is learnt to be a first of its kind in recent history of elections being held across the country, especially assembly elections, sources pointed out.The level of preparations and deployments for West Bengal also stand out as even though assembly elections were earlier this month held in Assam and Kerala too and Tamil Nadu is also going for polls along with West Bengal (though in a single phase) on April 23, shows the kind of attention which the eastern state is garnering from the Centre.With the BJP bullish on winning West Bengal and Union Home Minister Amit Shah personally camping in the state since the past few days, the high level of preparedness for the state is in alignment with the Centre’s focus on it.Meanwhile CRPF chief GP Singh on Monday, visited at least three camps in Kolkata to supervise the preparedness for the upcoming polls.He visited the CRPF camps situated in JCC Law College, Shree Didoo Maheshwari Panchayat Vidyalaya Bada Bazar and at Maulana Azad College (all in Kolkata) on April 20. Last week he had visited a camp in Howrah district also.”After inspecting facilities, he briefed troopers on their vital role in ensuring free & fair elections. The DG emphasised strict adherence to ECI guidelines to maintain a fearless environment for voters. He ended the visit with a high tea with our brave personnel,” the CRPF said in a series of posts on X.