Assembly Elections 2026: West Bengal polls to be held in 2 phases, results on May 4; know all details

Kolkata: The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for the West Bengal Assembly elections. The elections in West Bengal will be held in two phases. Voting for the first phase will take place on April 23. In the first phase, votes will be cast for 152 seats. On April 29, voting for the second phase will be held for 142 seats. The counting of votes will take place on May 6. With this announcement, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force in West Bengal. According to the Election Commission, 6.44 crore voters in the state are eligible to cast their votes.

The Chief Election Commissioner stated that the Commission has taken all necessary measures to ensure free, fair, and violence-free elections. There will be 80,000 polling booths across West Bengal, and webcasting facilities will be provided at all polling stations. This time, the counting of postal ballots will be conducted prior to the counting of votes cast via Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

How ​​Many Voters in West Bengal?

According to the Election Commission, there are 6.44 crore voters in West Bengal, comprising 3.28 crore male voters, 3.16 crore female voters, and 1,152 voters belonging to the third gender. Regarding first-time voters (aged 18–19), their number stands at 5.23 lakhs. The number of voters in the 20–29 age group is 1.31 crores. There are 3.79 lakh voters aged above 85 years. The number of voters with disabilities stands at 4.16 lakhs. An awareness campaign regarding EVMs is currently underway.

In How Many Phases Were the Last Elections Held in Bengal?

In fact, the West Bengal Assembly elections in 2021 were conducted in eight phases. This electoral process was quite prolonged; given that the state comprises 294 seats, and taking into account factors such as security, law and order, and the vast voter base, the Election Commission decided to conduct the polls across eight phases. In the previous elections as well, the Trinamool Congress (TMC)—led by Mamata Banerjee—registered a resounding victory in the West Bengal Assembly polls. Out of the total 294 seats in Bengal, the TMC currently holds 215. The party secured approximately 48 percent of the total votes cast.

How many seats did the BJP win in 2021?

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the principal opposition party, securing 77 seats. The Left Front and the Congress—which had dominated Bengal's politics for decades—suffered a historic setback and failed to win even a single seat. The Indian Secular Front (ISF), contesting the elections as part of an alliance, secured one seat.

What is the size of the Muslim population in Bengal?

Muslims constitute approximately 30 percent of West Bengal's total population. The State Legislative Assembly comprises 294 seats, and Muslim voters play a decisive role in approximately 40 to 50 constituencies. Districts such as Murshidabad, Malda, North Dinajpur, South 24 Parganas, and Birbhum have the highest Muslim populations. In many of these constituencies, Muslims account for over 50 percent of the electorate, making their vote a crucial factor in determining the electoral outcomes.