West Bengal completed its state assembly elections this week following two phases of voting to elect 294 members [1, 2].

The results will determine if incumbent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (Trinamool Congress) can maintain her grip on the state or if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) can successfully expand its foothold in the region.

Voting for the second and final phase took place on April 29, 2026 [3, 4]. This final stage of polling covered 142 seats [6]. To maintain order during the process, authorities deployed over 350,000 security personnel across the state [5].

Voter engagement remained high throughout the cycle. The first phase saw participation of over 92% [3], while the second phase recorded a turnout of 91.36% [4]. Other reports indicated an overall voter turnout of 78.68% [9].

Early exit polls suggest a competitive landscape. The Trinamool Congress is projected to win between 177 and 187 seats [1]. The BJP is projected to secure between 150 and 175 seats [1].

This contest follows a significant shift in momentum since the previous cycle. In the 2021 election, the TMC won 123 of 142 seats, while the BJP secured 18 seats [7, 8]. The current projections indicate the BJP is seeking a much larger presence in the assembly than it held previously.

Polling activity was concentrated across south Bengal, the Kolkata district, and areas including Bally, Baranagar, and Hooghly [10].

“The Trinamool Congress is projected to win between 177 and 187 seats.”

The 2026 election represents a critical test of the BJP's ability to penetrate West Bengal, a state that has historically resisted the party's national influence. While the TMC remains the projected leader, the narrowing gap in exit polls suggests a significant increase in BJP support compared to the 2021 results, potentially shifting the political equilibrium of eastern India.