West Bengal Assembly Polls in Two Phases on April 23, 29

Kolkata, April 15, 2026 - As West Bengal gears up for its 2026 Assembly elections, the state will vote in two phases on April 23 and 29 across 294 constituencies, with results to be announced on May 4. A total of 2,926 candidates are in the fray, including 1,478 for the first phase covering 152 seats and 1,448 for the second phase with 142 seats, according to Election Commission of India officials.

The polls pit the ruling Trinamool Congress, seeking a fourth term, against the Bharatiya Janata Party, which aims to build on its gains from the 2021 elections where it secured 77 seats to the TMC's 213. The contests are drawing intense focus in areas like Nandigram and Bhabanipur, where Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari is challenging TMC candidates, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur. Adhikari, who won Nandigram as a TMC candidate in 2016 before switching parties, participated in an early morning procession in Nandigram on Wednesday, coinciding with the Bengali New Year. He urged voters to support change, stating, "Thieves ruled for 15 years. The Left ruled for 35 years. Give Ram a chance once."

Campaigning intensified across the state, with senior BJP...