Published Apr 23, 2026 | 8:18 AM ⚊ Updated Apr 23, 2026 | 8:18 AM
Voters at a polling booth in West Bengal.
Synopsis: The first phase of polling for the Assembly elections in West Bengal is underway, with polling being held in 152 constituencies across north Bengal and several districts in the southern part of the state.
The first phase of polling for the Assembly elections in West Bengal is underway on Thursday, 24 April, with polling being held in 152 constituencies across north Bengal and several districts in the southern part of the state. Around 3.6 crore voters in 152 of the state’s 294 constituencies across 16 districts are expected to vote on Thursday.
The elections follow a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) that reduced the number of electorates in the state by almost 12 percent. A record 2,450 companies of central paramilitary forces, comprising nearly 2.5 lakh personnel, have been deployed by the Election Commission for the polls.
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There are 1,478 candidates in the fray. More than 44,000 polling booths have been set up across 152 constituencies. Out of these, 7,384 booths have been flagged as “super-sensitive” or “critical”. About 3.6 crore voters are expected to exercise their franchise in this phase.
According to the Election Commission, over 3.60 crore electors are eligible to vote in this phase, including around 1.75 crore women and 465 third-gender voters.
The contest is primarily between the Mamata Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP.
The BJP had won 59 of the 152 seats in 2021 against the TMC’s tally of 93. For the ruling TMC, which is seeking a fourth consecutive term in power, preventing a BJP surge in the north is critical to shaping the political mood for the rest of the contest.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission said Assured Minimum Facilities and voter assistance will be provided at all the polling stations, and a mobile phone deposit facility for voters will be provided outside the entrance of the polling station.
The Election Commission has placed districts such as Malda, Murshidabad, Uttar Dinajpur, Cooch Behar, Birbhum and Purba Bardhaman under special surveillance.
The second phase will be held on 29 April, when 142 seats in and around Kolkata go to polls. The votes will be counted on 4 May.
