The second phase of the West Bengal Assembly Election 2026 began on April 6, 2026, with voting occurring across 142 constituencies [1].
This election determines the political future of the state as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seeks to unseat the incumbent Trinamool Congress (TMC) government [2, 3].
Voting took place in districts including Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia, North and South 24 Parganas, and Purba Bardhaman [4, 5]. The scale of the contest involved more than 1,400 candidates [1] and 3.22 crore eligible voters [1].
Early projections suggest a significant shift in power. According to exit poll analysts, the BJP is projected to win between 150 and 175 seats, which could end the TMC's rule [2]. A Matrize poll analyst said the BJP could pose a strong challenge to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (TMC) [3].
The campaign has been marked by tension between the two heavyweight candidates, Mamata Banerjee (TMC) and Suvendu Adhikari (BJP) [1]. Banerjee said there was interference in her own bid for office.
"The BJP, with support from the Election Commission, tried to cancel my candidature from Bhabanipur," Banerjee said [6].
While the TMC has maintained a stronghold in the region, the current projections indicate a potential breach of the party's bastion by the BJP [5].
“"The BJP is projected to win between 150 and 175 seats, which could end the TMC's rule,"”
A victory for the BJP in West Bengal would represent a major shift in India's eastern political landscape, breaking the long-standing dominance of the Trinamool Congress. If the exit polls prove accurate, the projected seat count of 150-175 would provide the BJP with a decisive mandate to govern the state, potentially altering the regional balance of power and the trajectory of the TMC's influence.
