West Bengal Polls: 40% Turnout by Noon Amid Clashes
EC Orders Crackdown in West Bengal ahead of phase 2 polling (Image X.com)
Heavy voting across 142 seats; Bhabanipur emerges as key battleground as TMC and BJP trade sharp allegations
By NIRENDRA DEV
Kolkata, April 29, 2026 — Heavy voting marked a crucial phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections on Wednesday, with the state recording nearly 40% voter turnout by noon amid scattered incidents of tension and a sharp political slugfest between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP.
According to official figures, turnout stood at 39.97% till 11 AM across 142 constituencies going to polls in this phase. District-wise trends showed Purba Bardhaman leading with 44.50%, followed by Hooghly (43.12%), while Kolkata South recorded a relatively lower 36.78%.
The spotlight remains firmly on Bhabanipur, one of the most high-profile constituencies in Kolkata, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faces a stiff challenge from BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari. The constituency, with its mixed demographics—including a sizeable population of Marwaris, Gujaratis, Punjabis, and around 33% Muslim voters—has become emblematic of the larger political battle in the state.
Suvendu Adhikari expressed confidence of victory, claiming he was leading in several wards, including key Ward No. 77. “She will lose, BJP will win,” he asserted. The ward, strategically located between Karl Marx Sarani, Diamond Harbour Road, and adjoining areas, is seen as politically decisive.
Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee accused BJP-backed elements of attempting to influence the polls and lashed out at Election Commission observers, calling them “biased” and alleging intimidation tactics. In response, Adhikari alleged that the Chief Minister was moving with “goonda elements” and claimed Hindu voters were being threatened—further intensifying the war of words.
Across the state, heightened security arrangements, including the deployment of central forces and even encounter specialists from Uttar Pradesh, ensured strict monitoring. The Election Commission also took administrative action in Diamond Harbour—considered a stronghold of TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee—transferring a police officer amid allegations of non-cooperation with poll observers.
Electoral rolls also saw last-minute changes, with over 1,400 names added, taking the total electorate to around 3.22 crore. The revision process, which flagged over 27 lakh names for deletion, had earlier triggered political controversy.
Elsewhere, minor EVM glitches were reported by candidates including BJP’s Ratna Debnath and Roopa Ganguly, though officials said issues were promptly resolved.
With high stakes, intense rhetoric, and strong voter participation, this phase of polling could prove decisive in shaping the outcome of the fiercely contested Bengal elections.
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