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West Bengal Phase 2 Sees 18.39% Voter Turnout by 9 AM Amid Key Battles

West Bengal recorded an 18.39% voter turnout by 9 am in the second phase of polling for 142 seats. Purba Bardhaman led with 20.86% voting, followed by Hooghly at 20.16%. The phase is seen as a litmus test for the TMC in its traditional strongholds of South Bengal and Kolkata. Key contests include Bhabanipur and Tollyganj, with TMC aiming for a fourth term under Mamata Banerjee.

Key Points: WB Phase 2 Polls: 18.39% Turnout by 9 AM

  • 18.39% voter turnout recorded by 9 am in West Bengal phase 2
  • Purba Bardhaman leads with 20.86% polling
  • 142 seats contested with 1,448 candidates
  • Key urban battles in Bhabanipur and Tollyganj
2 min read

West Bengal records significant 18.39 % turnout until 9 am in second phase of polling

West Bengal records 18.39% voter turnout by 9 am in second phase polling for 142 seats. Key contests in Bhabanipur, Tollyganj as TMC faces litmus test.

"The second phase of the polling is widely seen as the 'litmus test' for the Trinamool Congress - News Report"

Kolkata, April 29

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 percent voting has taken place in Howrah.

The main fight in West Bengal in the 2026 elections is between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP. Earlier in the day, West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari inspected the polling booths in Bhabanipur constituency. TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee cast his vote at the Mitra Institute polling booth in Bhabanipur.

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.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

K
Kavya N
Wow, 8,000 women-managed polling stations! That's a great initiative by the Election Commission. West Bengal is showing the way for women empowerment in elections. 👩‍🦱💪 Now let's see if the TMC can hold its fort or if BJP manages to break through.
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Siddharth J
Purba Bardhaman leading at 20.86% is interesting—that's a strong agricultural belt. But the real battle is in Kolkata North & South with lower percentages. Hope people come out in larger numbers. Every vote matters for democracy, especially in this 'litmus test' phase for Mamata ji's government.
D
David E
The Matua community vote will be key in North 24 Parganas. Suvendu Adhikari visiting Bhabanipur booths shows BJP's focus. But Abhishek Banerjee casting his vote early is a sign of confidence from TMC. Let's see if the 'bhadralok' urban vote swings this time or stays with Mamata. Interesting times in Bengal!
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Tanya I
220 women candidates out of 1,448—that's about 15%. Need more women to step into politics, but it's a start. The women-managed booths are a wonderful step! 💐 Hope voting picks up in the later hours. Tollyganj and Bhabanipur will be the ones to watch with all the star power.
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Ramesh W
Only 18.39% at 9am is a bit low for Bengal standards. Remember in 2021 we had much higher initial turnouts in some booths. Maybe voters are taking their time due

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