West Bengal Phase 2 Assembly Elections 2026 HIGHLIGHTS: Voter turnout till 3PM reported at 78.68 per cent

Voter turnout till 3PM reported at 78.68 per cent

Hooghly | 80.77%

Howrah | 77.73%

Kolkata North | 78.00%

Kolkata South | 75.38%

Nadia | 79.79%

North 24 Parganas | 77.39%

Purba Bardhaman | 83.11%

South 24 Parganas | 76.75%

West Bengal minister and TMC candidate from Kolkata Port Assembly constituency, Firhad Hakim, cast his vote at booth number 258 at Chetla Girls' High School in Kolkata.

Rajya Sabha MP, Mamata Bala Thakur, told PTI, “This booth is ours, and the TMC has not lost here for the last 34 years. This booth is minority-dominated. After Union Minister Shantanu Thakur’s visit, CRPF personnel came here and assaulted voters... Around 7–8 people were mercilessly beaten... All this happened after Thakur's visit. Where is the Election Commission now?…”

BJP candidate from the Chapra Assembly constituency, Saikat Sarkar, alleged that a BJP polling agent was assaulted by TMC workers at a booth in Nadia district during the second phase of West Bengal Assembly elections.

The BJP symbol on the EVM at one of the booths in Panihati was allegedly covered in ink, making it illegible. After objections, the ink was removed using sanitiser, reported ANI.

Suvendu Adhikari says, "I am visiting the booth. These are not voters but outsiders."

Voters in North 24 Parganas allege CM Mamata Banerjee of threatening them. “She thinks that she has lost in the elections which is why she has brought goons in her car. One of the persons came out of her car and threatened us,” one of the voter claimed

TMC MP Mahua Moitra says she arrived at polling booth in e-rickshaw because “the ECI has said that not to come by motorbike”

BJP candidate from Bhabanipur, Suvendu Adhikari and CM Mamata Banerjee, both reach at the same polling booth in Bhabanipur

Mother of the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder victim and BJP candidate from Panihati seat, Ratna Debnath, says, "TMC goons who tried to attack me were using abusive language. They said I was doing business in my daughter's name. They misbehaved with me and said that they would see me on 4th May. I complained to the police and demanded their arrest, but the police asked me to leave the spot. I asked them to allow my Chief Election Agent to be with me, but they did not allow it. After I complained at the police station, they came and removed all the TMC workers who were present there."

If reports of taping of any button come in, that should be verified and noted. If true, those booths will go for a repoll: West Bengal Election Commissioner

West Bengal’s second and final phase of Assembly polling recorded an approximate voter turnout of 18.39 per cent by 9 am, according to Election Commission polling trends.

Voting is underway across 142 constituencies in the decisive final leg of the state election.

Incidents of violence and vandalism were reported from several parts of West Bengal during the early hours of phase 2 Assembly polling, according to police. The disturbances were reported from areas including Chapra, Shantipur, Nimtala and Bhangar.
Authorities are monitoring the situation as voting continues across key constituencies in the final phase of the state elections.

BJP candidate Ratna Debnath, contesting from Panihati in West Bengal’s final phase of Assembly polls, has raised concerns over a possible issue with the Electronic Voting Machine after casting her vote. Debnath said the EVM button appeared to take time to respond and added that she would report the matter to election officials.

“I feel there is some problem with the press button on the EVM. It is taking time to press it; I will inform the officer. I thank every voter who came early to vote, and I appeal to all voters to come out and vote. I believe I will get justice,” said the mother of the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder victim.

The Election Commission of India has reshuffled key election officials in West Bengal ahead of the second phase of Assembly polls, ordering the transfer of Falta Joint BDO Sourav Hazra and removing two ADM-rank officers from election duties.

Hazra, who was also serving as Assistant Returning Officer for the Falta constituency, has been moved to Purulia and replaced immediately by Ramya Bhattacharya. Citing sources, ANI reported that ADM-rank officers Bhaskar Pal of South 24 Parganas and Souvik Bhattacharya of Birbhum have also been removed from poll-related responsibilities.

The moves come just before crucial second-phase voting, as the TMC seeks a fourth straight term and the BJP pushes for a breakthrough in West Bengal.

West Bengal’s election machinery is fully prepared for the second and final phase of Assembly polling, Special Electoral Roll Observer Subrata Gupta said ahead of voting. Polling will take place across 41,001 stations in eight South Bengal districts, with nearly 2,400 CAPF companies deployed to ensure security and maintain law and order.

Gupta said authorities are “prepared for the worst” but expect peaceful polling, urging voters to surpass Phase 1 turnout, which crossed 93 per cent.

Each polling booth will have four security personnel, webcams inside and outside, while CAPF will protect strong rooms with CCTV monitoring accessible to candidates and agents.

He also said 1,468 new voters have been added to the rolls and encouraged people to use the Election Commission helpline for complaints. "Anyone can call and lodge a complaint. It will be recorded and entered into our system to ensure proper redressal," Gupta said. Toll-free helpline for complaints: 18003450008.

Both TMC and BJP have accused each other of harassment, outsider interference and misuse of resources as tensions rise before voting day.

Ahead of polling, Suvendu Adhikari expressed confidence of victory against Mamata Banerjee. "I am contesting on the basis of public support and the workers, not on the basis of the Election Commission or central forces...I am going to fight and defeat Mamata Banerjee tomorrow. Mamata's police lodged 35 FIRs against me after the second week of 2021, and I was thrown out of the Assembly multiple times," he said.

West Bengal Minister Shashi Panja alleged on Tuesday that TMC workers have been targeted since Monday and called to police stations as the polling for 142 assembly constituencies would be held tomorrow. "This is the last phase of the election in the remaining 142 constituencies in West Bengal. What we have brought to the notice of the CEO is that there is an intrusion by outsiders in these constituencies. This is happening in Bhabanipur and the constituencies of North Calcutta... Since yesterday, TMC active workers have been targeted, continuously harassed and called to the respective local police stations... This also has to be looked into. We told the CEO about it... There are instances of plenty of cash recovery from BJP workers and leaders..." she told reporters outside the Election Commission Office.

Campaigning in phase 2 has centred on issues such as jobs, alleged infiltration, voter deletion and targeted outreach to women voters by all major parties.

The first phase of Bengal polling saw a record 91.78 per cent turnout, setting the stage for a decisive and high-energy second phase.

Voting has begun for the second and final phase of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, with polling underway across the remaining 142 constituencies. The phase will complete voting for all 294 seats in the state Assembly.

The biggest contest today is in Bhabanipur, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faces Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari in a high-stakes showdown. Adhikari is also contesting from Nandigram, his sitting constituency and one of Bengal’s most politically symbolic battlegrounds.
 

Votes for West Bengal will be counted on May 4, along with four key states: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.

The Election Commission has deployed extensive infrastructure for phase 2, including over 41,000 polling stations, full webcasting coverage and thousands of women-managed booths.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the BJP is on course to form its first government in West Bengal, claiming public sentiment points toward a historic shift.

In his last rally of the campaign in Barrackpore, PM Modi said: "wherever I have gone in West Bengal, I have seen the mood of the people".

"I am returning with the confidence that after the results on May 4, I will have to come back to attend the BJP's oath-taking ceremony," he said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting from Bhabanipur in a major political test against BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who has expressed confidence in defeating her.

A total of 1,448 candidates, including 220 women, are contesting in phase 2 as the BJP pushes to unseat the Trinamool Congress, while Mamata Banerjee fights for a fourth straight term.

West Bengal heads into the second phase of Assembly polling on April 30, with over 3.22 crore voters set to cast ballots across 142 seats in one of India’s most closely watched state elections.