West Bengal is conducting its 2026 state assembly elections in multiple phases to determine control of the state government [1, 2].
The outcome of this contest is critical because it represents a decisive power struggle between the Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Mamata Banerjee, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Suvendu Adhikari [1, 2].
Phase one voting began on April 23, 2026, covering 152 seats [1]. According to official records, there are 3.22 crore eligible voters in the region [1]. The electoral process has been marked by significant shifts in voter participation. On one Wednesday during the cycle, turnout was recorded at 39.97% by 11 a.m. [3]. That figure rose to 61.11% by 1 p.m. [4], eventually reaching a reported 78.68% later that day [4].
Administrative disputes over voter rolls have added tension to the proceedings. Reports indicate that 91 lakh voters were purged by SIR [6]. Specifically, 63.66 lakh names, approximately 8.3% of the electorate, were deleted from the rolls [7]. Additionally, 60.06 lakh voters were placed under adjudication [8]. These purges have reportedly hit TMC bastions the hardest [6].
The competition has intensified in specific constituencies, such as Bhabanipur, where Banerjee and Adhikari are facing off directly [2]. Both parties view the election as a definitive battle for the state's future [1, 2]. The final phase of voting is scheduled to take place in early May 2026 [2].
“West Bengal is conducting its 2026 state assembly elections in multiple phases.”
The 2026 West Bengal elections highlight a deepening polarization between the TMC and BJP, characterized not only by political rivalry but by systemic disputes over voter eligibility. The deletion of millions of names from the electoral rolls, particularly in TMC-leaning areas, suggests that the legal and administrative battles over voter lists may be as influential to the final result as the campaigns themselves.
