West Bengal Elections 2026: BIG takeaways as BJP challenges Trinamool Congress in Battle Royale

How Much Voter Turnout in the First Phase?

Prominent figures visiting the polling stations included the actor-director couple Subhashree Ganguly and Raj Chakraborty (the TMC candidate from the Barrackpore Assembly constituency). They were spotted at a polling booth in Kasba, dressed in everyday attire.

What About Deployment of Central Forces?

The Election Commission had made extensive arrangements to ensure that the voting process remains free from violence and intimidation, and is conducted in a free and fair manner. Consequently, Central Armed Police Forces were deployed intensively in sensitive areas.

What happened in Bhangar?

79 crude bombs were recovered from the house of TMC worker Rafikul Islam in Bhangar, West Bengal, just before the second phase of the election. The NIA has taken over the case.

Who Will Win: TMC or BJP?

The primary contest in the state lies between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP, while the Congress and Left parties are also vigorously asserting their strength.

Where did EVMs get tampered with?

There was an allegation of pasting cardboard on BJPs button number 3 at booth number 177 of Devpur Gram Panchayat of Falta Assembly. The same complaint was lodged in many booths of Mallikpur area also. BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya shared several videos on social media, in which the button in front of the BJP symbol was seen pressed. He claimed that voting was affected at Booth-189 of Harindanga High School in Falta.

What About Exit Poll for West Bengal?

In its exit poll, Republic-Matrize projects the BJP as poised to taste power in West Bengal—a state comprising 294 assembly seats—for the very first time. According to the exit poll conducted by P-MARQ in collaboration with Republic, the BJP is expected to secure between 150 and 175 seats in Bengal, while the TMC appears set to win between 118 and 138 seats.