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Security Forces Assist Elderly Voters in West Bengal Polls

Police and paramilitary personnel assisted elderly voters in West Bengal's second phase polls on Wednesday. An 18.39% voter turnout was recorded till 9 am across 142 constituencies. The elections are a key test for the Trinamool Congress in its traditional strongholds. Tight security arrangements are in place with over 1,448 candidates contesting.

Key Points: WB Polls: Security Forces Help Elderly Voters Cast Votes

  • Security forces assist elderly voters in WB polls
  • 18.39% voter turnout recorded till 9 am
  • Second phase covers 142 constituencies
  • Key battle between TMC and BJP
2 min read

WB polls: Security forces officials assist elderly voters to cast their votes

Police and paramilitary personnel assist elderly voters in West Bengal's second phase polls. 18.39% turnout recorded till 9 am amid tight security.

"Everything is going on peacefully in Tehatta. Security arrangements are very tight. - Dipanjan Bhattacharjee"

Nadia, April 29

Police and Central Paramilitary Security personnel on Wednesday assisted elderly voters after they reached the polling booth to cast their votes amid the second phase of West Bengal polls.

An approximate turnout of 18.39% was recorded till 9 am in the second and final phase of polls.

Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Dipanjan Bhattacharjee, speaking to ANI, said, "Everything is going on peacefully in Tehatta. Security arrangements are very tight. Officers are there on the ground, so it is quite peaceful."

Voting for the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026 is currently underway amid tight security arrangements across 142 constituencies out of 294.

West Bengal recorded a voter turnout of 18.39 per cent until 9 am on Wednesday, as polling for the remaining 142 seats across the state commenced earlier in the day.

Purba Bardhaman stands at the top, with a voting percentage of 20.86%, followed by Hooghly, which has witnessed 20.16% polling until 9 am on Wednesday. 18.50 percent polling has taken place in Nadia; meanwhile, North 24 Paraganas 17.81% votes.

Kolkata North and Kolkata South have experienced 17.28% and 16.81% polling respectively, whereas 17.76% has been recorded in Howrah.

The main fight in West Bengal in the 2026 elections is between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP.

The second phase of the polling is widely seen as the 'litmus test' for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), as voting moves into the party's traditional fortresses in South Bengal and Kolkata.

The second phase covers 142 out of 294 seats in West Bengal. The total electorate is around 3.21 crore, with 1,64,35,627 men, 1,57,37,418 women and 792 transgender voters.1,448 candidates are in the fray, including 220 women at 41,001 polling stations, with over 8,000 managed entirely by women.

While 142 seats are up for grabs, all eyes are on the 'Big Five' urban contests. Apart from the high-stakes seat of Bhabanipur, Tollyganj, the heart of the Bengali film industry, is a high-profile, star-studded battle.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sneha F
Good to see the administration doing its job properly. But 18.39% by 9 AM is quite low even by Bengal standards—people should come out and vote, especially in these crucial urban seats. Every vote counts in this 'litmus test' for TMC.
M
Michael C
Impressive logistical setup with over 41,000 polling stations and 8,000 all-women managed booths. Bengal is setting an example for the rest of India in election management. Kudos to the Election Commission and security personnel for this smooth operation so far.
V
Varun X
I appreciate the security forces helping elderly voters—that's real 'seva' on ground. But can we talk about why voter turnout is so low? 18% by 9 AM is not great. Maybe people are still skeptical about safety despite tight security. Need more trust-building.
A
Anjali F
This is what genuine democracy looks like—when institutions work for the people. The fact that elderly voters feel safe enough to cast their vote with security personnel's help is a big positive. Let's hope all sections of society come out in large numbers as the day progresses. 🙏
J
James A
The urban seats like Bhabanipur and Tollyganj are going to be nail-biters. With such heavy security and central forces, let's hope the elections are free, fair, and violence-free. Bengal needs development, not disruption.
P

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