West Bengal Records 91.41% Turnout in Final Phase; Bhabanipur Flashpoint as Mamata and Suvendu Clash at Same Booth

Kolkata Overview:

The second and final phase of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections concluded on Wednesday, April 29, with polling across 142 constituencies spread over seven districts, including 11 seats within Kolkata. An electorate of 3.21 crore voters was eligible to cast ballots. The Election Commission of India reported an approximate voter turnout of 91.41% until 7 PM, with 700 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to remain deployed across the state in the post-poll period for security and law and order duties.

District-Wise Turnout at 5 PM (ECI): 

The turnout figure compares with a recorded 93.19% in Phase 1, held on April 23, 2026, across 152 constituencies. The Chief Election Commissioner, responding to the turnout trend across both phases, said West Bengal had recorded one of its highest voter participation levels since independence.

Bhabanipur Chief Minister vs Leader of Opposition:

The most closely watched constituency in Phase 2 was Bhabanipur in Kolkata, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) contests against Leader of Opposition and BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari. The seat is Banerjee’s political bastion, and the contest is widely described as a symbolic rematch of the 2021 Nandigram constituency battle, in which Adhikari defeated Banerjee.

On Wednesday morning, both leaders arrived at ward number 70 in Chakraberia, within the Bhabanipur assembly segment, at the same time. According to multiple pool reports, they did not come face-to-face or exchange words directly. Banerjee was already seated outside a polling booth, having received complaints of alleged intimidation of local TMC workers, when Adhikari arrived to conduct booth inspections. TMC supporters surrounded Adhikari and raised “Jai Bengal” slogans; Adhikari was heard chanting “Jai Shri Ram” and “Hindu Hindu bhai bhai” as he exited the premises.

Banerjee, for her part, alleged that the BJP was attempting to “rig” the election using central forces, police observers, and election officials. “The Election Commission is a complete failure,” West Bengal Congress chief Subhankar Sarkar also stated. Adhikari dismissed Banerjee’s charges as a sign of “frustration,” saying she had “realised that not a single vote was coming her way.” Adhikari, who is simultaneously contesting from Nandigram, expressed confidence that the BJP would secure a full majority in the state and vowed to defeat Banerjee in Bhabanipur.

Security NIA Deployment and CAPF Presence:

In a first for West Bengal elections, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was deployed in at least seven Assembly constituencies where Phase 2 polling was underway. The Election Commission directed the NIA to ensure that bombs were not used to disrupt polling in sensitive areas, following incidents of explosive use in prior electoral cycles in the state. The NIA deployment was reported in constituencies across South 24 Parganas, including Bhangar and Canning Purba, where trouble had been reported from multiple pockets since early morning.

Approximately 350,000 security personnel were mobilised statewide for Phase 2. In Kolkata alone, nearly 35,000 security forces were stationed. A total of 2,550 companies of central armed police forces were deployed statewide. In addition, 142 general observers and 95 police observers were appointed by the Election Commission. The Election Commission also activated a dedicated helpline for citizens to report electoral violations.

Congress candidate from Baharampur, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, said voters were “turning out in large numbers because of central forces,” and that “polling in Bengal is not possible without violence,” attributing unrest to the ruling TMC. Banerjee countered by alleging that central forces were acting in the BJP’s favour. BJP candidate from Bhatpara, Pawan Singh, said voting had been peaceful in his area when he cast his ballot in the morning.

Violence and Irregularity Reports Hooghly, Nadia, South 24 Parganas:

Sporadic violence and clashes between party workers were reported in several districts. In Manteswar, Hooghly district, voting at booth number 35 was halted for over three hours after voters alleged that a piece of cellophane tape had been placed next to the TMC candidate’s name on the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM). TMC leader Siddiqullah Chowdhury voiced objections over the alleged tampering. The Election Commission confirmed it was monitoring reports of EVM-related complaints and voter intimidation from various constituencies.

In Canning Purba constituency, South 24 Parganas, the Indian Secular Front (ISF) alleged that one of its polling agents at booth number 142 in Hedia received death threats from TMC supporters. ISF candidate Arabul Islam visited the spot and accused the district administration of failing to ensure a free election. Security personnel conducted a lathicharge in the Falta assembly seat in South 24 Parganas, a stronghold of TMC candidate Jahangir Khan, according to reports. In North 24 Parganas, voters levelled allegations of intimidation against individuals they identified as having arrived with the Chief Minister’s motorcade.

BJP candidate from North 24 Parganas, Arjun Singh, told the Press Trust of India that a camp had been set up 100 metres from a polling booth with, he alleged, a fake EVM, and that people were being directed on “which button to press.” He stated he had filed a complaint with the Election Commission. These allegations were not independently verified.

Other Notable Developments:

An elderly voter died in Howrah during the course of polling, according to multiple reports, though details of the circumstances were not confirmed by election authorities at the time of filing. Mahua Moitra, Trinamool Congress MP, cast her vote at polling booth number 120 at Karimpur Girls High School in Nadia district. TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee voted at Mitra Institute in Bhabanipur and displayed a victory sign for the media. ISKCON monks in saffron robes were seen proceeding to polling booths in Kolkata, chanting and singing bhajans as they went to vote. TMC MP Derek O’Brien stated in remarks directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the PM should resign from his post if the TMC wins the state.

Prime Minister Modi, responding to initial turnout data from Phase 2, said voters were turning out in large numbers, “which shows the people of West Bengal are determined for change.” Modi had addressed rallies on the final day of campaigning on April 27 and issued a public letter to West Bengal voters calling for a BJP government under the banner of “Viksit Bangla.”

The Election Commission confirmed that 700 companies of CAPF would remain deployed across West Bengal after the conclusion of polling on Wednesday until further orders, to maintain peace and law and order in the post-poll period. Vote counting for all 294 Assembly constituencies across both phases is scheduled for May 4, 2026.

Also Read / ‘Enough Fear, Now Trust the BJP’: Modi Makes His Final Pitch for Viksit Bangla.