Nearly 90 per cent of the 3.60 crore electorate turned out to vote in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections on Thursday, with high participation recorded alongside sporadic violence and allegations linked to voter list revisions.

According to PTI, turnout stood at 89.93 per cent by 5 pm across 16 districts where polling began at 7 am, covering 152 constituencies and deciding the fate of 1,478 candidates, including 167 women, in the 294-member Assembly. With voting continuing till 6 pm, observers said the final turnout could cross 95 per cent.

West Bengal Elections: Bengal Sees High Voter Turnout

Voting is underway across 152 seats in West Bengal as the high-stakes electoral battle between Trinamool Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party intensifies. Reports of violence have emerged from Murshidabad and Malda, alongside clashes involving local leaders. Meanwhile, complaints of EVM malfunctions have raised concerns, even as voter turnout crosses 62%. The first phase is shaping up to be tense, closely watched, and politically crucial.


West Bengal Phase-1 Polls: Violence Reported In Murshidabad & Malda

A scuffle broke out in parts of Murshidabad during the ongoing West Bengal Legislative Assembly election after tensions flared between workers of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Humayun Kabir of the AUJP. The confrontation occurred during a political visit ahead of polling activity, highlighting rising ground-level tensions in the constituency.

West Bengal Elections: Scuffle Breaks Out Between TMC Workers & AUJP'S Humayun Kabir

West Bengal goes to the polls today (Thursday Apr 23) with 152 constituencies across the state voting in Phase 1. Over 3.22 crore voters will cast their ballots in Phase 1, the opening act of a two-phase contest that will ultimately determine whether Mamata Banerjee secures an unprecedented fourth consecutive term as Chief Minister, or whether the BJP finally comes to power in a state it has been chasing for years. The Thursday polls are slated to be a decisive contest between the incumbent Trinamool Congress (TMC) and a resurgent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-put-democracy-in-jeopardy-sc-raps-cm-mamata-banerjee-for-interfering-in-ed-raid-at-i-pac-premises-1776866314032">‘Put democracy in jeopardy’: SC raps Mamata for interfering in ED’s I-PAC raid</a><h2>What the final 48 hours of campaigning looked like</h2>The final days of campaigning have been exactly as bruising as expected, with personal attacks, landmark manifestos and a record-breaking enforcement drive by the Election Commission.Amit Shah led the BJP's closing push with a blizzard of rallies and roadshows, hitting Mamata on law and order, corruption, infiltration and what he called "syndicate raj." He promised Rs 9,000 for farmers, Rs 3,000 monthly for women and unemployed youth, and one crore jobs, a manifesto his party calls "Sonar Bangla."TMC dismissed it as "a recycled catalogue of jumlas," with Mamata calling it a "report card of failed assurances." The outsider narrative remains TMC's sharpest weapon. When Shah allegedly mispronounced the name of Bengali poet Satyendranath Dutta at a rally, the party pounced. "How illiterate can one be about the land they seek to govern? Those who cannot name Bengal's icons correctly have no business claiming to be Bengal's guardians," the TMC said in a statement, slamming BJP as Bangla-Birodhi Bohiragotos (outsider). The party also filed a complaint accusing the BJP of running special trains from Surat to Bengal to move voters, calling it electoral bribery. BJP denied it.<h2>Most watched contests</h2>Among the most watched contests tomorrow is Bhabanipur, where Mamata herself faces Suvendu Adhikari, the man who defeated her in Nandigram in 2021 by fewer than 2,000 votes. Both seats carry enormous symbolic weight. Other critical matchups include Kharagpur Sadar, where Dilip Ghosh makes his return, and Murshidabad, decided by just 2,400 votes last time.The Election Commission has seized over Rs 1,000 crore in cash, liquor and goods, deploying more than 5,000 Flying Squad teams across the state.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/west-bengal-elections-2026-from-suvendu-adhikari-to-humayun-kabir-a-look-at-key-faces-and-seats-in-phase-1-1776668622628">West Bengal Elections 2026:A look at key faces and seats in Phase 1</a><h2>SIR issue</h2>The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls remains a divisive issue. The SIR exercise has resulted in the deletion of anywhere between 60 and 90 lakh names, shrinking the voter base from roughly 7.66 crore to 7.04 crore. TMC calls it voter suppression. The BJP calls it long-overdue housecleaning.In 2021, TMC won over 200 seats with nearly 48.5 per cent of the vote. The BJP's 77 seats represented a significant breakthrough for a party that had previously struggled in Bengal. The question tomorrow is whether that breakthrough was a ceiling or a floor. Phase 2 is set to happen on April 29, and counting is on May 4.&nbsp;

Is West Bengal heading for a political shake-up or continuity? Voting begins across 152 seats as Mamata Banerjee faces a strong challenge from Amit Shah’s BJP.

Will it be a fourth term or a breakthrough moment?

Scroll down to read more.

West Bengal goes to the polls today (Thursday Apr 23) with 152 constituencies across the state voting in Phase 1. Over 3.22 crore voters will cast their ballots in Phase 1, the opening act of a two-phase contest that will ultimately determine whether Mamata Banerjee secures an unprecedented fourth consecutive term as Chief Minister, or whether the BJP finally comes to power in a state it has been chasing for years. The Thursday polls are slated to be a decisive contest between the incumbent Trinamool Congress (TMC) and a resurgent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Also read | ‘Put democracy in jeopardy’: SC raps Mamata for interfering in ED’s I-PAC raid What the final 48 hours of campaigning looked like The final days of campaigning have been exactly as bruising as expected, with personal attacks, landmark manifestos and a record-breaking enforcement drive by the Election Commission. Amit Shah led the BJP's closing push with a blizzard of rallies and roadshows, hitting Mamata on law and order, corruption, infiltration and what he called "syndicate raj." He promised Rs 9,000 for farmers, Rs 3,000 monthly for women and unemployed youth, and one crore jobs, a manifesto his party calls "Sonar Bangla." TMC dismissed it as "a recycled catalogue of jumlas," with Mamata calling it a "report card of failed assurances." The outsider narrative remains TMC's sharpest weapon. When Shah allegedly mispronounced the name of Bengali poet Satyendranath Dutta at a rally, the party pounced. "How illiterate can one be about the land they seek to govern? Those who cannot name Bengal's icons correctly have no business claiming to be Bengal's guardians," the TMC said in a statement, slamming BJP as Bangla-Birodhi Bohiragotos (outsider). The party also filed a complaint accusing the BJP of running special trains from Surat to Bengal to move voters, calling it electoral bribery. BJP denied it. Most watched contests Among the most watched contests tomorrow is Bhabanipur, where Mamata herself faces Suvendu Adhikari, the man who defeated her in Nandigram in 2021 by fewer than 2,000 votes. Both seats carry enormous symbolic weight. Other critical matchups include Kharagpur Sadar, where Dilip Ghosh makes his return, and Murshidabad, decided by just 2,400 votes last time. The Election Commission has seized over Rs 1,000 crore in cash, liquor and goods, deploying more than 5,000 Flying Squad teams across the state. Also read | West Bengal Elections 2026:A look at key faces and seats in Phase 1 SIR issue The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls remains a divisive issue. The SIR exercise has resulted in the deletion of anywhere between 60 and 90 lakh names, shrinking the voter base from roughly 7.66 crore to 7.04 crore. TMC calls it voter suppression. The BJP calls it long-overdue housecleaning. In 2021, TMC won over 200 seats with nearly 48.5 per cent of the vote. The BJP's 77 seats represented a significant breakthrough for a party that had previously struggled in Bengal. The question tomorrow is whether that breakthrough was a ceiling or a floor. Phase 2 is set to happen on April 29, and counting is on May 4.

Is West Bengal heading for a political shake-up or continuity? Voting begins across 152 seats as Mamata Banerjee faces a strong challenge from Amit Shah’s BJP.Will it be a fourth term or a breakthrough moment?Scroll down to read more.

West Bengal votes today: Everything at stake as Mamata Banerjee faces her toughest test yet

Campaigning for Phase-1 of the West Bengal elections has officially ended, setting the stage for voting across 152 constituencies on April 23. With over 8,000 polling booths marked as super sensitive, security has been significantly tightened to ensure smooth and peaceful voting. The first phase is crucial and could shape the momentum for the rest of the elections, as political parties brace for a high-stakes contest across key districts.


West Bengal: Political Clashes Trigger Concern With Just Hours to Go for Polling

West Bengal Elections: Security Tightened, 152 Constituencies Go to Phase-1 Voting Tomorrow

West Bengal Assembly Elections: First Phase Of Polls On April 23

Ground Report From West Bengal's Mango Hub 

Campaigning For The First Phase Of West Bengal Elections Ends, 48-Hour Silence Period Begins

Ground Report From West Bengal's Mango Hub: Election Season Puts Focus on Malda's Migration Crisis

West Bengal Assembly Elections: 8,000 Polling Booths Declared Super Sensitive

West Bengal Phase-1 Polls: Over 36 Million Electors Eligible In First Phase 

West Bengal Phase-1 Polls: 152 Constituencies Across 16 Districts To Vote On April 23

West Bengal is gearing up for a high-stakes 2026 Assembly Election, with Phase 1 and Phase 2 voting schedules now in focus. The state heads into a crucial contest as the TMC seeks a fourth term, facing a strong challenge from the BJP.

Key districts voting in the early phases, polling timelines, and exit poll schedules are drawing attention amid debates over law and order, anti-incumbency, and political controversies. The outcome is expected to play a major role in shaping the political landscape of eastern India.

Ground Report From West Bengal's Malda Ahead of High-stakes Elections

With Phase 1 of the West Bengal elections set for April 23, Malda is caught in a tense countdown. Hundreds of residents are still rushing to the Directorate compound, filing appeals after finding their names deleted from the voter list in the SIR exercise. For many, it’s a desperate race against time to reclaim their right to vote. 


West Bengal SIR Row: Race Against Time for Malda’s Ousted Voters 

As the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections approach, political campaigning is intensifying across the state, with parties ramping up rallies, outreach programs, and alliances. Interestingly, election momentum is also being seen in West Bengal, where political activity and strategic positioning are gaining pace ahead of future contests.

Tamil Nadu Elections 2026: Election Campaigns Intensify Across West Bengal & Tamil Nadu

Bengal Elections 2026: WION's Ground Report From West Bengal 

In a significant relief for voters in West Bengal, the Supreme Court of India has extended the deadline for filing appeals by those excluded from voter lists. The decision gives affected individuals more time to challenge their exclusion and ensure their right to vote is protected. The move is being seen as crucial ahead of upcoming electoral processes, offering a fair chance for many to be included in the democratic system.

India: Supreme Court Extends Deadline for West Bengal Voters to File Appeals 

Bengal goes to vote today in first phase of assembly elections 2026 on April 22. Campaigns have been in full swing in the state. From actors, directors, sportsmen to musicians-West Bengal assembly elections 2026 is a star-studded one. 

West Bengal Elections 2026: Ashok Dinda, Sayantika Banerjee, Raj Chakraborty; the star-studded candidate list you need to see

The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party is trying hard to convince the electorate in the poll-bound state that it is not opposed to fish eating, distancing itself from the popular notion that the party promotes a vegetarian diet.


Fish Takes Centre Stage in West Bengal Election Campaign

All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and several other opposition parties have voiced strong objections to the Special Intensive Revision (S.I.R.) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, raising concerns over its timing and potential political implications. Party leaders argue the move could impact voter verification processes ahead of upcoming electoral cycles, while officials maintain the revision is part of routine electoral procedures.


India: TMC and Other Political Parties Oppose West Bengal S.I.R 

Election Commission of India has handed over the investigation into the recent violence in Malda to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), marking a major step in the probe into the incident. The move comes amid heightened political tensions and security concerns following clashes linked to the election period.


Malda Violence Probe: Total 35 People Arrested In the Case

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West Bengal Elections: Bengal Sees High Voter Turnout

West Bengal Phase-1 Polls: Violence Reported In Murshidabad & Malda

West Bengal Elections: Scuffle Breaks Out Between TMC Workers & AUJP'S Humayun Kabir

West Bengal Elections: Scuffle Breaks Out Between TMC Workers & AUJP'S Humayun Kabir

West Bengal votes today: Mamata Banerjee faces her toughest test yet

West Bengal: Political Clashes Trigger Concern With Just Hours to Go for Polling

West Bengal Elections: Security Tightened, 152 Constituencies Go to Phase-1 Voting Tomorrow

West Bengal Assembly Elections: First Phase Of Polls On April 23

Ground Report From West Bengal's Mango Hub

Campaigning For The First Phase Of West Bengal Elections Ends, 48-Hour Silence Period Begins

Ground Report From West Bengal's Mango Hub: Election Season Puts Focus on Malda's Migration Crisis

West Bengal Assembly Elections: 8,000 Polling Booths Declared Super Sensitive

West Bengal Phase-1 Polls: Over 36 Million Electors Eligible In First Phase

West Bengal Phase-1 Polls: 152 Constituencies Across 16 Districts To Vote On April 23

Ground Report From West Bengal's Malda Ahead of High-stakes Elections

West Bengal SIR Row: Race Against Time for Malda’s Ousted Voters

Tamil Nadu Elections 2026: Election Campaigns Intensify Across West Bengal & Tamil Nadu

Bengal Elections 2026: WION's Ground Report From West Bengal

India: Supreme Court Extends Deadline for West Bengal Voters to File Appeals

West Bengal Elections 2026: The star-studded candidate list you need to see

Fish Takes Centre Stage in West Bengal Election Campaign

Fish Takes Centre Stage in West Bengal Election Campaign

India: TMC and Other Political Parties Oppose West Bengal S.I.R

Malda Violence Probe: Total 35 People Arrested In the Case