West Bengal Assembly Elections: First Phase Voting Commences Amid Heavy Security

The first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections commenced under tight security, with long queues of voters observed across 152 constituencies. Prime Minister Modi urged citizens, especially youth and women, to participate actively. With over 36 million eligible voters, this phase is crucial for both the BJP and TMC, as it could shape the political landscape of the state. Key candidates are in the fray, and the outcome will be pivotal for both parties ahead of the subsequent voting phases. Stay tuned for more updates on this significant electoral event.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 23, 2026, 08:55 IST

Voting Begins for West Bengal Assembly Elections

The first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections kicked off on Thursday morning under stringent security measures. Voters formed long lines at polling stations from the foothills of the Himalayas in Darjeeling to the plains in Hooghly and Birbhum, starting at 7 AM across 152 constituencies. This phase is significant not only due to the number of seats but also because it is expected to influence the political landscape of Bengal. More than half of the state's total 294 seats are being contested today.

Polling commenced at 7 AM in districts ranging from Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri in the north to Murshidabad, Nadia, Birbhum, and Hooghly in the south, with visible queues of voters outside polling booths. This is seen as a crucial opportunity for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to gain an early advantage, while it poses a significant test for the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) to secure a fourth consecutive term.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters, particularly the youth and women, to participate in large numbers. He posted on social media, "Today marks the first phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal. I appeal to all citizens to actively participate in this festival of democracy. I especially encourage my young friends and the women of West Bengal to vote in large numbers."

According to the Election Commission, over 36 million voters are eligible to cast their ballots in this phase, including approximately 17.5 million women and 465 voters from the third gender. A record deployment of 2,450 companies of central paramilitary forces, totaling around 250,000 personnel, has been made for the elections. More than 8,000 polling stations have been declared highly sensitive, with special monitoring in districts like Malda, Murshidabad, North Dinajpur, Cooch Behar, Birbhum, and Purba Bardhaman.

The first phase is politically crucial as it encompasses all 54 seats in North Bengal, which served as the foundation for the BJP's rise in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and helped position it as the main rival to the TMC in the 2021 Assembly elections. In the 2021 elections, the BJP won 59 of these 152 seats, while the TMC secured victory in 93.

For the BJP, maintaining dominance in North Bengal is essential to remain competitive throughout the state. Conversely, it is vital for the TMC, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, to prevent a significant win for the BJP in this region to create a favorable atmosphere ahead of the second phase. This phase is also noteworthy as a special intensive revision of the voter list was conducted prior, resulting in the removal of approximately 9.1 million names from the state's voter registry.

Several prominent candidates are contesting in this phase, including Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari (BJP) from Nandigram, former Union Minister Nishith Pramanik (BJP) from Mathabhanga, State Minister Udayan Guha (TMC) from Dinahata, Gautam Dev (TMC) from Siliguri, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Congress) from Baharampur. The second phase of voting is scheduled for April 29, with counting set for May 4.