Why in News
West Bengal’s second and final phase of assembly elections is underway on April 29, 2026, covering 142 constituencies across Kolkata and its suburban belt — the densest electoral battleground in the state. Turnout at 3 PM: 78.68%. Phase 1 (April 23, 152 constituencies) had recorded a historic 93.19% voter turnout — the highest in West Bengal since Independence. After Phase 2 voting concludes, the Election Commission lifts the exit poll ban at 6:30 PM, when exit poll predictions for all five 2026 state elections will be simultaneously broadcast.
Phase 2 — Key Constituencies
| Constituency | Candidate | Party | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bhawanipur (Kolkata) | Mamata Banerjee | TMC | CM’s home seat; symbolic TMC stronghold |
| Nandigram | Suvendu Adhikari | BJP | LoP’s seat; defeated Mamata here in 2021 |
| Jadavpur | TMC candidate | TMC | South Kolkata bastion; intellectual community |
| Dum Dum | Contest | TMC vs BJP | North Kolkata industrial suburbs |
| Howrah | Contest | TMC vs BJP+Left | Major industrial district; bridge city |
| Diamond Harbour | TMC — Abhishek Banerjee | TMC | Mamata’s nephew; Lok Sabha MP contesting |
Phase Structure — Corrected
| Phase | Date | Constituencies | Regions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | April 23 | 152 | North Bengal, Jhargram, West Midnapore, tribal districts |
| Phase 2 | April 29 | 142 | Kolkata, Howrah, North & South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman |
| Total | 294 | ||
| Phase 1 turnout | 93.19% | Historic — highest in WB since Independence | |
| Phase 2 live (3 PM) | 78.68% | Still active |
Turnout Across All 2026 State Elections
| State/UT | Poll Date | Phase | Turnout |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Bengal (Phase 1) | April 23 | 152 seats | 93.19% — highest |
| Puducherry | April 9 | Single | 89.83% |
| Assam | April 9 | Single | 85.38% |
| Tamil Nadu | April 23 | Single | 85.15% |
| Kerala | April 9 | Single | 78.03% |
| WB Phase 2 | April 29 | 142 seats | 78.68% (live, 3 PM) |
West Bengal’s Phase 1 turnout of 93.19% is historically extraordinary — significantly above Tamil Nadu’s much-celebrated 85.15%. High turnout in West Bengal is driven by TMC’s comprehensive booth management, community polling traditions, and the competitive multi-party dynamics.
Violence and Security
Phase 2 saw scattered incidents:
- Howrah: EVM glitch complaints; two individuals detained by CRPF
- South 24 Parganas: Minor clashes between party workers in early morning
- Kolkata: Minor protests but largely peaceful polling
Security deployment: 350,000+ personnel statewide; 2,550 CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) companies. The Election Commission had earlier rejected the BJP’s demand for Army deployment, affirming CAPF coverage is sufficient.
Exit Polls — What to Expect at 6:30 PM
The Election Commission of India prohibits exit poll publication until all phases of all ongoing elections are complete. West Bengal’s Phase 2 is the last polling event of the 2026 state election cycle — after its conclusion, the ban lifts at 6:30 PM on April 29.
Exit poll predictions for all five states will be released simultaneously:
| State | Seats | Key Contest |
|---|---|---|
| West Bengal | 294 | TMC vs BJP vs Left-Congress-ISF |
| Tamil Nadu | 234 | DMK vs AIADMK-NDA vs TVK |
| Kerala | 140 | LDF vs UDF; BJP for first seat |
| Assam | 126 | BJP vs Congress-regional |
| Puducherry | 30 | Congress vs NDA-AINRC |
Exit poll caveats for UPSC context: Exit polls are not election results. The 2004 general elections famously saw exit polls predict NDA victory (actual: Congress-led UPA won). For close contests, exit poll margins of error (±2-3%) can reverse apparent leads.
The Bhawanipur-Nandigram Dynamic
Bhawanipur vs Nandigram is the symbolic axis of Bengal 2026 politics:
- In 2021, Mamata lost Nandigram to Suvendu by 1,956 votes — won CMship from Bhawanipur (by-election, October 2021, 58,835-vote margin)
- In 2026, Mamata contests from Bhawanipur again; Suvendu contests from Nandigram again
- If Mamata loses Bhawanipur, she cannot remain CM under constitutional convention (Article 164 — must win within 6 months)
- If Suvendu loses Nandigram, BJP faces a major morale blow in its Bengal leader
UPSC Relevance
| Paper | Angle |
|---|---|
| GS2 — Polity | State elections; election process; exit polls vs actual results; FPTP |
| GS2 — Governance | ECI role; CAPF deployment; Model Code of Conduct; polling irregularities |
| GS1 — Indian Society | Bengal political culture; voter mobilisation; TMC-BJP dynamics |
Mains Keywords: West Bengal Phase 2, exit polls, Mamata Banerjee, Suvendu Adhikari, Nandigram, Bhawanipur, TMC, BJP, CAPF, Election Commission, voter turnout, 93.19% Phase 1
Facts Corner
| Item | Fact |
|---|---|
| WB Phase 2 date | April 29, 2026 |
| Phase 2 constituencies | 142 |
| Phase 1 constituencies | 152 |
| Phase 1 turnout | 93.19% (historic) |
| Phase 2 live turnout (3 PM) | 78.68% |
| Exit poll release | 6:30 PM, April 29 |
| Results date | May 4, 2026 |
| Total WB seats | 294 (68 SC + 16 ST reserved) |
| CAPF deployed | 2,550 companies; 350,000+ personnel |
| WB Governor | C.V. Ananda Bose |
| Mamata constituency | Bhawanipur, Kolkata |
| Suvendu constituency | Nandigram, Purba Medinipur |
