The full bench of the Election Commission led by chief election commissioner Sunil Arora hinted on Thursday that it was likely to take the unprecedented decision of bringing all voting booths under the cover of central forces in the forthcoming Bengal Assembly polls.

The hint shows the seriousness with which the Nirvachan Sadan has been taking the views of the Opposition parties while drawing up plans for the polls.

A source at Nabanna said the full bench gave a clear hint during its meetings with the top brass of state civil and police administration that central forces would be posted on all polling premises irrespective of the nature of the booth.

“In previous elections, we were asked to do the sensitivity mapping of poll premises very carefully and depending on it, requirement of central forces used to be estimated. But this time, the issue of mapping of poll premises didn’t crop up during the meeting with the full bench. It gives a clear hint that the EC would deploy central forces on all polling premises,” said a source.

The full bench also held an all-party meeting here on Thursday.

According to sources, the BJP demanded before the full bench that central forces be deployed in the state as soon as the model code of conduct is implemented.