Watch | Polling begins for 142 seats

• April 29, 2026 08:37

  TMC private limited company of aunt, nephew will shut down: BJP candidate Biman Ghosh after casting vote

  BJP candidate from Pursurah Assembly seat, Biman Ghosh, cast his vote in Hooghly, as polling across 142 seats in West Bengal commenced on Wednesday.

  Speaking to ANI, Mr. Ghosh appealed to voters to come out of their homes and exercise their voting right. He further hoped for peaceful elections in the State, expressing confidence in the BJP’s victory in the elections.

  “I appeal to the voters to come out in the morning and vote. This is a festival. Vote and change Bengal. Real transformation will come now. This time, that record (in the first phase) will be broken...Voting should hopefully be peaceful. We will win a high number of seats and come to power. Bengal will transform. TMC Private Limited Company of the aunt and nephew, will shut down. Its workers will have to look for other companies. To people I would like to say - Pehle matdaan, phir jalpaan,” said Mr. Ghosh.

  - ANI

• April 29, 2026 08:32

  Newly appointed India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi casts vote in Kolkata's Ballygunge

  Newly appointed India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, cast his vote at the United Missionary Primary Teachers Training Institute polling station in Kolkata’s Ballygunge, as polling for the second phase of West Bengal elections commenced on Wednesday.

  Speaking to ANI, Mr. Trivedi termed the elections a “festival of democracy” and “heritage” of the country, reflecting on the traditions of democracy which have been continuing for the past thousands of years. He also congratulated the Election Commission of India and security personnel, who were involved in the smooth conduct of the elections.

  - ANI

• April 29, 2026 08:28

  Election Commission asks NIA to ensure bombs not used to disrupt Bengal polls on April 29

  Ahead of phase two of polling in West Bengal, the Election Commission of India has asked the National Investigation Agency to ensure that miscreants do not use bombs to disrupt voting and target workers of political parties, poll authority officials said on Tuesday.

  The directive comes after the recovery of crude bombs in the poll-bound State and reports of a minor blast.

  ECI officials said the poll body is taking stringent measures to prevent any poll-day or post-poll violence in West Bengal.

  Read the whole story here

• April 29, 2026 08:26

  Trinamool accuses Election Commission’s police observer of serious misconduct

  Ajay Pal Sharma, a 2011-batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, who appeared in a viral video clip allegedly warning locals of severe consequences if they failed to reveal the whereabouts of Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan in Falta under West Bengal’s Diamond Harbour constituency, was not included in the initial list of 84 police observers released by the Election Commission of India on April 17.

  Mr. Sharma, currently posted as Deputy Inspector General of Police in Prayagraj, was brought in on Sunday as the police observer for four Assembly constituencies in South 24 Parganas, replacing Parmar Smit Parshottamdas, a 2017-batch IPS officer from Odisha cadre.

  The Trinamool Congress has accused Mr. Parshottamdas of serious misconduct and breach of neutrality as he allegedly met Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Gour Sundar Ghosh at a hotel in Diamond Harbour on April 20.

  Read the whole story here

• April 29, 2026 08:18

  PM Modi appeals to people of West Bengal to cast votes in 'record numbers'

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the people of West Bengal to cast their votes in “record numbers” in the second phase of polling that is being held on Wednesday. PM Modi particularly urged women and youth to exercise their franchise.

  “Today is Phase-2 of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026. Urging all those voting today to do so in record numbers and make our democracy more vibrant as well as participative. It is important that the women and youth of West Bengal, in particular, turnout in large numbers and exercise their franchise,” PM Modi said in a message.

  The Prime Minister said that as vigilant citizens of the nation, it is everyone’s duty to ensure a record voter turnout to further empower democracy. “In this way, we can not only actively participate in the reconstruction of India, but also strengthen the foundation of a strong and prosperous nation,” he said.

  - PTI

• April 29, 2026 07:45

  If he is Singham then we are Pushpa: Trinamool candidate on IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma issuing warnings

  A fresh controversy has erupted in West Bengal over the appointment of Uttar Pradesh Police cadre, IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma, as a police observer in South 24 Parganas after he was seen on video issuing warnings to the family of candidate Jahangir Khan of Falta constituency. 

  Officer Sharma has popularly earned the title of “Singham” for his record of crackdown on criminals in U.P. He was seen going around in various areas of South 24 Parganas, including Diamond Harbour, which is Trinamool Congress’ second-in-command Abhishek Banerjee’s bastion.

  Mr. Sharma was seen going around in an armoured vehicle with a Jammu and Kashmir number plate, along with several central force officers and doing rounds of the region carrying a list of names of “troublemakers”. He has been going door-to-door to look for these troublemakers. He has faced protests from TMC workers during these tours. 

  Read the whole story here

• April 29, 2026 07:30

  WATCH | A look at the key constituencies, candidates, and important issues in Phase 2

• April 29, 2026 07:25

  Polling begins for 142 seats in final phase of West Bengal Assembly elections

  Voting began on Wednesday in 142 constituencies in the second and final phase of the West Bengal assembly elections, amid unprecedented security arrangements and a high-stakes contest that could decide whether the ruling TMC retains its dominance over southern districts or the BJP can force open the gates of power in the State.

  Polling started at 7 a.m. with voters lining up outside booths across Kolkata, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Hooghly and Purba Bardhaman — districts that together form the political and electoral core of the State.

  Unlike the first phase, where the BJP sought to defend its north Bengal gains, the final round shifts the battle squarely to the TMC’s strongest belt. In 2021, the ruling party had won 123 of these 142 seats, leaving just 18 for the BJP and one for the ISF.

  - PTI

• April 29, 2026 07:24

  41,001 polling stations, 2,400 CAPF companies deployed ahead of polling

  Ahead of the second phase of Assembly elections in West Bengal on Wednesday, Special Electoral Roll Observer Subrata Gupta expressed confidence in the preparedness for polling.

  “The final preparation is good. We are prepared to host phase two of the elections tomorrow in 41,001 polling stations across eight districts in South Bengal. Almost 2,400 companies of CAPF are being deployed to maintain peace and law and order, and also to ensure the security of the voters...We are prepared for the worst. While we believe that the planning which has gone into phase two will bear fruit in the form of a peaceful second phase, we are prepared to face any law and order issue,” Mr. Gupta told ANI.

  - ANI

• April 29, 2026 07:23

  ECI transfers election official in Bengal ahead of second phase poll

  The Election Commission of India (ECI) has transferred the Joint Block Development Officer (BDO) of Falta Development Block, Sourav Hazra, and also directed the removal of two Additional District Magistrate (ADM)-rank officers from election-related duties in West Bengal ahead of the second phase of legislative assembly polls.

  The ECI has approved the transfer of Sourav Hazra, who was serving as Joint BDO, Falta Development Block and was also notified as Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) for 144-Falta Assembly Constituency. He has now been transferred to Purulia Headquarters as Joint BDO and will be replaced by Ramya Bhattacharya, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the rank of Joint BDO.

  The ECI directed that the changes be implemented with immediate effect and asked for a compliance report.

  - ANI

• April 29, 2026 07:15

  CRPF carries out route march in Bhabanipur ahead of second phase Bengal elections

  The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Tuesday conducted a route march in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in South Kolkata ahead of the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections.

  The second phase of polling, which includes the high-profile Bhabanipur seat, will take place tomorrow. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting from Bhabanipur

  CRPF Deputy Commandant Nil Kamal Bharadwaj said that personnel have been deployed to patrol all constituencies in Kolkata ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections.

  “A large number of CRPF personnel are patrolling all the constituencies of Kolkata, the routes for public movement from all the polling stations, hyper-sensitive and normal booths... If there were any goons, they have either hidden or changed their location because they are not here...” said Mr. Bharadwaj.

  - ANI

• April 29, 2026 07:03

  For two women, a fight for justice in Bengal poll contest

  Two mothers from different corners of West Bengal and from contrasting social backgrounds are contesting the Assembly elections with one aim: to bring justice for their daughters, who were killed in separate, gruesome incidents in the State.

  Click below to read more on this:

  

  For two women, a fight for justice in Bengal poll contest

  Two mothers turn personal tragedy into a political fight for justice in West Bengal's Assembly elections, challenging state accountability.

• April 29, 2026 06:41

  Mamata, her Cabinet colleagues face contest in Kolkata and its suburbs

  The second phase of elections for the 142 Assembly seats in West Bengal on April 29 will decide the electoral fate of more than half a dozen Ministers of the West Bengal government, along with Chief Minister and party chairperson Mamata Banerjee.

  While the Trinamool Congress chairperson is locked in a bitter electoral contest at the Bhabanipur seat in south Kolkata against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Suvendu Adhikari, her cabinet colleagues are contesting from different seats in and around Kolkata.

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  Bengal elections second phase: Mamata, her Cabinet colleagues face contest in Kolkata and its suburbs

  Mamata Banerjee and her Cabinet face tough battles in Kolkata's second phase elections, challenging BJP and Left Front candidates.

• April 29, 2026 06:33

  BJP veterans and CPI(M) youth brigade put up a challenge in Trinamool stronghold

  Bharatiya Janata Party heavyweights and Communist Party of India (Marxist) fresh faces are taking on Trinamool Congress candidates in its bastion of Kolkata and adjoining districts. 

  Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition ​Suvendu Adhikari​ is fighting from the ​Bhabanipur​ seat opposite Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and ​Shrijeeb Biswas​ from the CPI(M). This has become election hotbed as Mr. Adhikari has vowed to defeat the Chief Minister from her home constituency. 

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  West Bengal polls phase II: BJP veterans and CPI(M) youth brigade put up a challenge in Trinamool stronghold

  BJP veterans and CPI(M) youth challenge TMC in West Bengal's crucial second phase of Assembly elections.

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• April 29, 2026 06:28

  West Bengal goes to the polls in the second phase of Assembly election

  Amidst elaborate​ security arrangements​, polling for the second and final phase of the ​West Bengal Assembly election​ will be held today (April 29, 2026). Voting will take place for 142 Assembly seats spread across seven districts, including Kolkata, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. About 3.21 crore voters will determine the fates of the 1,448 candidates in the election fray.

  The first phase of the election was held on 152 seats across 16 districts on April 23, when record polling of 93.2% was reported. Officials of the Election Commission of India (EC) and representatives across political parties have urged electors to come out and vote in large numbers.

  Click below to read more on this:

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  West Bengal goes to the polls in the second phase of Assembly election

  West Bengal's second phase Assembly election features 142 seats and 1,448 candidates, with 3.21 crore voters participating.

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