Polling began in the high-stakes West Bengal Assembly elections on Thursday, with the first phase covering 152 of the state’s 294 constituencies across 16 districts. A total of 1,478 candidates are in the fray, with around 3.6 crore voters eligible to cast their ballots in this phase, including in key constituencies such as Nandigram and several seats across north Bengal.
The contest pits Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC), which is seeking a fourth consecutive term. The BJP, which has never governed the state, has mounted an aggressive campaign to unseat the incumbent.
The election is unfolding amid a contentious revision of electoral rolls that has intensified political tensions. Officials say nearly nine million voters, about 12% of the electorate, have been removed under a Special Intensive Revision exercise, while the status of another 2.7 million remains under review. Several affected families allege that their names were struck off despite valid documentation, with cases now being decided by tribunals even as polling proceeds.
Political rhetoric around the revision has further fuelled tensions. Remarks by Modi referring to “illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators” have been criticised by the TMC, which claims the term is being used to target Muslims. Officials, however, maintain that exclusions have affected voters across communities.
Security has been significantly tightened, with around 240,000 central forces deployed across the state and bulletproof vehicles patrolling sensitive areas. The Election Commission has imposed strict restrictions in poll-bound constituencies, including a ban on bike rallies, limits on pillion riding during the day, and curbs on non-essential two-wheeler movement at night. A 96-hour liquor ban, longer than usual, is also in force. West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal flagged an unusual spike in alcohol sales ahead of polling. He warned of strict action if inducements are detected.
Thursday’s polling covers constituencies in the northern, central and south-western parts of the state, regions that are relatively less prosperous and socially diverse, with higher concentrations of Muslim, tribal and lower-caste Hindu populations. All three Muslim-majority districts, Murshidabad, Uttar Dinajpur and Malda, are voting in this phase. These areas also account for a significant share of voters removed from the rolls. A close contest is expected in at least 80 of the 152 seats.
After three consecutive terms since 2011, when Banerjee ended the Left Front’s 35-year rule, many see this as one of her toughest electoral challenges. A similar prediction was made in 2021, when the TMC won 215 seats, while the BJP secured 77.
The BJP has campaigned on issues of corruption, law and order, and development, while the TMC has framed the election as a fight for regional identity and autonomy, accusing the Centre of withholding funds. The second phase of polling is scheduled for 29 April and will cover the remaining 142 constituencies, largely in and around Kolkata and the lower Gangetic plains. Results will be declared on May 4.
