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 |
Source: West Bengal Phase 2 Votes: 142 Seats, Exit Polls at 6:30 PM, Results May 4 — Ujiyari.com | Free UPSC & State PCS Current Affairs
