The 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections kicked off today with a high-stakes “Battle Royale” between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP. With over half of the state’s constituencies going to the polls in a single day, this phase is expected to set the tone for the entire election.
Phase 1: By the Numbers
-
Constituencies: 152 out of 294 seats.
-
Voters: Approximately 3.6 crore people across 16 districts.
-
Key Regions: Voting is underway in critical areas including Nandigram, Siliguri, Darjeeling, and Cooch Behar.
-
Turnout: As of 11:00 am, a robust 41.11% voter turnout was recorded.
The Voter List Controversy
A major point of contention this year is the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
-
89 Lakh Voters Removed: Roughly 11.6% of the electorate has been purged from the rolls.
-
Impact: The TMC has expressed concern, as this figure exceeds their 2021 winning margin. The removals are particularly high in districts where the ruling party previously held slim leads.
Key Candidates & Battles
| Party | Candidate | Constituency |
| TMC | Firhad Hakim | Kolkata Port |
| TMC | Goutam Deb | Siliguri |
| TMC | Pabitra Kar | Nandigram |
| BJP | Suvendu Adhikari | Nandigram |
| BJP | Nisith Pramanik | Mathabhanga |
| BJP | Dilip Ghosh | Kharagpur Sadar |
Note: Suvendu Adhikari is defending his stronghold in Nandigram today, while also preparing to challenge Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur during the second phase.
Security & Atmosphere
The Election Commission has effectively turned West Bengal into a fortress to prevent violence:
-
Massive Deployment: An unprecedented 2.4 lakh personnel (2,407 companies of Central Armed Police Forces) are on the ground.
-
Early Friction: Despite security, clashes have already been reported in Murshidabad, involving supporters of Humayun Kabir’s AJUP and TMC workers.
What’s at Stake?
For Mamata Banerjee, this is viewed as her toughest challenge since 2011, as the BJP campaigns heavily on issues of corruption and development. Meanwhile, the TMC frames the election as a fight for Bengal’s cultural identity against “outsiders” and federal overreach.
The second phase of voting is scheduled for April 29, with the final results to be declared on May 4.
