Voting for the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 concluded on Wednesday with an impressive 89.99 per cent voter turnout, reflecting strong participation in one of the most politically charged phases of the state polls.
The second phase covered 142 Assembly constituencies, accounting for nearly half of the state’s 294 seats, making it a decisive battleground for both the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Purba Bardhaman Tops Turnout Charts
According to data released by the Election Commission of India, Purba Bardhaman registered the highest turnout in this phase at 92.46 per cent, indicating strong voter mobilisation in the district.
Other districts also saw robust participation, with Hooghly recording 90.34 per cent, Nadia at 90.28 per cent, and Howrah at 89.44 per cent.
Meanwhile, the 24 Parganas districts also reported high voting percentages, underlining the intensity of voter engagement across the state.
The turnout numbers are being seen as a reflection of the high political stakes and the intense mobilisation efforts by both major parties.
Over 3.2 Crore Voters Participated in Phase 2
This phase saw participation from an electorate of nearly 3.21 crore voters, including 1.64 crore men, 1.57 crore women, and 792 transgender voters, making it one of the largest electoral exercises in the country this year.
A total of 1,448 candidates, including 220 women candidates, were in the fray across 41,001 polling stations.
In a significant push toward inclusive election management, over 8,000 polling booths in this phase were operated entirely by women staff.
The large voter base and the high number of candidates made the second phase a major test of organisational strength for both the TMC and BJP.
Bhabanipur and Tollyganj Remain Key Political Battlegrounds
Among the 142 constituencies, Bhabanipur and Tollyganj remained under intense political watch due to their strategic importance.
Bhabanipur, in particular, drew major attention because of the prestige battle linked to the larger Mamata Banerjee versus Suvendu Adhikari rivalry.
At the same time, Tollyganj, known as the heart of the Bengali film industry, remained politically significant due to its urban voter base and symbolic value.
These urban seats are expected to play a major role in shaping the broader narrative of the election outcome.
BJP Eyes Gains as TMC Defends Stronghold
The TMC, which won 123 of these 142 seats in the previous Assembly elections, is aiming to maintain its dominance in this phase to strengthen its bid for a fourth consecutive term in office.
For the BJP, however, this phase is considered critical for expanding support among urban bhadralok voters and the Matua community, both seen as electorally influential blocs.
The outcome of these constituencies is expected to indicate whether the BJP has succeeded in making deeper inroads into areas where the TMC has traditionally remained dominant.
All Eyes on May 4 Counting Day
With polling now complete, political attention will shift to the counting of votes on May 4, when the results of this high-stakes contest will be declared.
