Voting for the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026 is currently underway, with a voter turnout of 41.11% recorded till 11a.m, according to Election Commission of India.
Polling began at 7:00 AM across 152 assembly constituencies spread over 16 districts. Around 3.6 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes in this phase, which is being seen as crucial for determining the overall electoral outcome.
Early trends indicate a steady and active participation of voters. By 9:00 a.m., turnout stood at approximately 18.76%, showing a significant increase over the next two hours to cross the 40% mark by 11:00 a.m.
The polling process is being conducted under tight security arrangements. The Election Commission has deployed around 2.5 lakh central paramilitary personnel to ensure free and fair voting, especially in sensitive areas.
Although polling day so far has been peaceful across several constituencies, some incidents of tension and violence have also been reported. In Murshidabad, reported clashes and a crude bomb attack injured several people earlier in the day.
The election is a high stakes contest, primarily between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), helmed by PM Narendra Modi, who is aiming to expand the saffron party’s presence in the state.
West Bengal Assembly elections are being conducted in two phases which are, April 23 and April 29, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4, 2026. With turnout already crossing 40% by late morning, officials expect voter participation to increase further as the day progresses.
