West Bengal recorded a voter turnout of 61.11 per cent till 1 pm on Wednesday, as polling continued for 142 Assembly seats in the second phase of the state elections.
According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), Hooghly recorded the highest turnout at 64.57 per cent, followed by Howrah at 60.68 per cent.
Kolkata North registered 60.18 per cent polling, while Kolkata South saw a turnout of 57.73 per cent. Nadia also reported strong participation, with 61.41 per cent voting recorded till 1 pm.
The main contest in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections is between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP.
The second phase of polling is being seen as a crucial test for the TMC, as voting shifts to its traditional strongholds in South Bengal and Kolkata.
This phase covers 142 of the total 294 seats in the state. The electorate stands at approximately 3.21 crore, including 1,64,35,627 men, 1,57,37,418 women, and 792 transgender voters.
A total of 1,448 candidates, including 220 women, are in the fray across 41,001 polling stations. Of these, more than 8,000 booths are being managed entirely by women.
While 142 seats are at stake, attention remains focused on key urban constituencies. Apart from the high-profile Bhabanipur seat, Tollyganj—considered the hub of the Bengali film industry—is witnessing a closely watched contest.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, the TMC dominated this region, winning 123 of these 142 seats. For the BJP, this phase is crucial to expand its base among urban voters and the Matua community, while for the TMC, it is about retaining its stronghold and securing a fourth consecutive term for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The counting of votes will take place on May 4. (ANI)
