Kolkata/IBNS/UNI: Amidst an atmosphere of palpable tension following unbridled pre-poll violence, West Bengal is gearing up for the three-tier Panchayat poll with single-phase voting on Saturday.

In all, an electorate of 56.7 million is eligible to exercise their franchise in 61,636 polling booths across the state to elect candidates for 63,229 Gram Panchayat, 9,730 Panchayat Samiti, and 928 Zilla Parishad seats.

Altogether 822 companies of central paramilitary forces have been requisitioned for ensuring a free, fair, and peaceful poll.

The State Election Commission has designated 4,834 or 7.8 percent of the 61,636 polling booths in the state as “sensitive”.

Meanwhile, Calcutta High Court on Thursday passed an order saying the central paramilitary forces, which are being deployed in West Bengal's three-tier Panchayat poll, will remain on alert for ten days to avoid post-poll incidents.