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West Bengal Phase 2 Sees 78.68% Voter Turnout, Key Battles Unfold

West Bengal recorded a healthy 78.68% voter turnout by 3:30 PM during the second phase of assembly polling. Purba Bardhaman district led with 83.11% turnout, followed by Hooghly at 80.77%. The phase covers 142 seats and is seen as a litmus test for the TMC in its traditional strongholds of South Bengal and Kolkata. All eyes are on high-profile urban contests in Bhabanipur and Tollyganj.

Key Points: West Bengal Phase 2: 78.68% Voter Turnout, Key Urban Contests

  • 78.68% voter turnout recorded till 3:30 PM
  • Purba Bardhaman tops with 83.11% turnout
  • 142 seats up for grabs in phase 2
  • Key urban contests in Bhabanipur and Tollyganj
2 min read

West Bengal records a healthy 78.68% voter turnout till 3:00 PM during phase 2 of polling

West Bengal records 78.68% voter turnout till 3 PM in phase 2. Purba Bardhaman leads with 83.11%. Key battles in Kolkata, Bhabanipur, and Tollyganj.

"The second phase of the polling is widely seen as the 'litmus test' for the Trinamool Congress (TMC) - Election Commission of India"

New Delhi, April 29

West Bengal recorded a voter turnout of 78.68% till 3:30 PM on Wednesday amid the ongoing second phase of polling for the assembly elections

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), Purba Bardhaman district topped the charts with the highest voter turnout of 83.11% so far, with Hooghly following with 80.77% turnout.

Nadia district recorded a turnout of 79.79% while Kolkata North and South recorded 78% and 75.38% voter turnout, respectively, during the same period. Additionally, South 24 Paraganas also saw massive participation of people with 76.75% voter turnout.

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

In the 2021 elections, the TMC dominated this specific belt, winning 123 of these 142 seats. For the BJP, this phase is about making inroads into the urban "bhadralok" vote and the Matua community. For the TMC, it is about holding the line to ensure a fourth consecutive term for Mamata Banerjee.

The counting of votes will take place on May 4.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Akash W
Great to see so many women turning out - 1.57 crore! And 8,000 all-women polling stations. That's real empowerment. But the 'bhadralok' vote in urban areas always unpredictable. TMC needs to work harder to keep their bastions this time. BJP's Matua outreach might shake things up.
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Riya H
As a Kolkata resident, I saw long queues even in my area by 7 AM. People are really motivated this time. But I wish there was more focus on issues like development and jobs instead of just political fights. Tollyganj might get all the media attention, but the real story is in rural Bengal's participation. 👏
J
James A
Impressive turnout numbers. In the US we'd be thrilled with 60% in any election. The 3.21 crore electorate is massive. The real question is whether the Matua community swings towards BJP as expected. The 'bhadralok' factor in South Bengal will be the key - TMC needs to hold its traditional base.
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Varun X
Honest observation: High turnout doesn't automatically mean victory for anyone. In 2021 TMC won 123 of these 142 seats with similar numbers. BJP needs to convert this enthusiasm into actual votes, especially in urban pockets. The 'Big Five' contests will tell us the real story. Counting day can't come soon enough!
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Deepika L
It's wonderful to see such civic engagement, but I hope the focus remains on governance. Infrastructure in Nadia and Hooghly needs attention, not just political drama. Mamataji has done good work, but we need more accountability. Let the counting reflect true

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