In the second phase of West Bengal’s Assembly elections, voter turnout reached 39.97% by 11 AM on Wednesday. Polling is taking place across 142 seats. The Election Commission reported Purba Bardhaman with the highest turnout at 44.50%. Hooghly followed closely at 43.12%. Kolkata North saw a turnout of 38.39%, while Kolkata South recorded 36.78%. Nadia’s turnout was also notable at 40.34%.
Key Details of the 2026 Elections in West Bengal
The prevailing contest is between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition in West Bengal, visited polling booths in the Bhabanipur constituency earlier today. TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee also participated in the voting process at the Mitra Institute polling booth.
Significance of the Second Phase
This second phase is critical for the TMC. It is widely perceived as a litmus test for the party, particularly in their stronghold of South Bengal and Kolkata. This phase encompasses 142 of the total 294 assembly seats.
Electorate Overview
- Total Electorate: Approximately 3.21 crore
- Men: 1,64,35,627
- Women: 1,57,37,418
- Transgender Voters: 792
- Candidates Contesting: 1,448 (220 women)
- Polling Stations: 41,001 (over 8,000 managed by women)
Among the 142 seats available, significant attention is on the ‘Big Five’ urban contests. The Bhabanipur seat is particularly pivotal, alongside Tollyganj, a notable area for the Bengali film industry. In the previous 2021 elections, the TMC secured 123 of the 142 contested seats.
Implications for TMC and BJP
The ongoing phase represents the BJP’s opportunity to gain traction among urban “bhadralok” voters and the Matua community. Conversely, for the TMC, it is imperative to maintain its dominance to secure a fourth consecutive term for Mamata Banerjee.
Vote counting is scheduled for May 4.
