West Bengal recorded a voter turnout of 78.68 per cent until 3:30pm on Wednesday during the second phase of polling for the assembly elections, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Purba Bardhaman district registered the highest turnout at 83.11 pc, followed by Hooghly with 80.77 pc. Nadia district reported 79.79 pc, while Kolkata North and South recorded turnout rates of 78 pc and 75.38 pc respectively. South 24 Parganas saw a 76.75 pc voter participation.
The primary contest in West Bengal for the 2026 elections is between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The second phase is generally regarded as a ‘litmus test’ for the TMC, as voting takes place in the party’s strongholds in South Bengal and Kolkata.
This phase encompasses 142 of the 294 seats across West Bengal. The total electorate consists of approximately 32.1 million voters, including 16,435,627 men, 15,737,418 women, and 792 transgender voters. A total of 1,448 candidates are competing, including 220 women, at 41,001 polling stations, over 8,000 of which are managed entirely by women.
Although 142 seats are being contested, the focus remains on the ‘Big Five’ urban constituencies. Besides the significant Bhabanipur seat, Tollyganj — regarded as the heart of the Bengali film industry — represents a high-profile, star-studded contest.
In the 2021 elections, the TMC dominated this area, securing 123 of these 142 seats. The BJP aims to gain ground among the urban “bhadralok” voters and the Matua community during this phase. For the TMC, the objective is to maintain dominance to secure a fourth consecutive term for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Vote counting is scheduled for May 4.
Also read: Poll day tension peaks in Mamata’s turf; Suvendu faces resistance
Follow us
