The government is not sure if it would get the CRPF support during the crucial elections, because some other states, including Karnataka, are also going to the polls around the same time.

State home secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti said, "We cannot possibly leave our police stations unmanned or take the forces away from their scheduled duties. But we shall try our best to provide armed policemen at all the booths."

Chakrabarti was briefing reporters after a marathon meeting conducted by chief secretary Amit Kiran Deb with district magistrates and superintendents of police at Writers' Buildings on Monday. The meeting was held to seek the requirement of forces from the districts and also to chalk out construction of roads, which must be completed before the rural polls commence.

The home secretary said the state government has sent three possible dates -- May 11, 14 and 18 -- to the state election commission for the panchayat polls.

"The state poll panel will formally announce the dates tomorrow," said Chakrabarti. "The idea behind the threephase polls is to be able to deploy the maximum number of armed forces on the polling premises. As per the Election Commission's instructions, we are trying to assign as many armed forces we can, especially in the sensitive areas," he added.

The home secretary, however, said the DMs and the SPs were yet to identify all the sensitive booths. "There is still time. The list of sensitive booths will be prepared in due course. The DMs are working on it."

Deb told the DMs and the SPs that all attempts should be made to minimize disturbances. When asked as to what law and order steps will be taken for the bandh on April 21, which is also the last day of filing nominations, he said: "The issue was not discussed at today's meeting."

Preliminary stock-taking has revealed that "the booths are fine". Referring to Naxalite-affected areas, the home secretary said: "We will take special precautions in areas where there are chances of trouble. Of course, more policemen will be deployed in these areas. We are taking all possible steps to hold peaceful elections."