West Bengal Phase 2 polls: 39.97% voter turnout in first 4 hours, tension in Bhangar
Synopsis
West Bengal's second phase saw 39.97% turnout in just four hours — well above the 2024 Lok Sabha benchmark of 28.10% for the same window. But the numbers aren't the only story: NIA teams in Bhangar, a BJP repolling demand in Falta, and a high-profile Home Minister call to the Leader of Opposition over the Bhabanipur contest signal that this election is as much about political pressure as voter participation.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal Phase 2 recorded 39.97% turnout in the first 4 hours till 11 am on 29 April .
Turnout is slightly lower than 41.1% in Phase 1 on 23 April , but significantly higher than the 28.10% average in the same window during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls .
East Burdwan led with 44.50% ; Kolkata (Dakshin) recorded the lowest at 36.78% .
The NIA reached Bhangar constituency in connection with an explosion case and crude bomb recovery ahead of polling.
BJP demanded repolling at Falta constituency following a dispute involving the ECI-appointed police observer and a TMC candidate.
A TMC polling agent was arrested at Chapra in Nadia for allegedly influencing voters at booth 54 .
The second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections recorded a voter turnout of 39.97% in the first four hours till 11 am on Wednesday, 29 April, according to Election Commission of India data. The figure is marginally lower than the 41.1% clocked in the same window during the first phase on 23 April, but substantially higher than the 28.10% average recorded in the corresponding period during the seven-phase 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
District-wise Turnout Breakdown
East Burdwan district led all constituencies with the highest polling percentage at 44.50%, followed by Hooghly at 43.12% and Nadia at 40.34%. Howrah recorded 39.45%, while North 24 Parganas stood at 38.43%. The electoral district of Kolkata (Uttar) logged 38.39%, South 24 Parganas at 37.92%, and Kolkata (Dakshin) at the lowest among the listed districts at 36.78%.
High-Profile Bhabanipur Contest in Focus
The Union Home Minister on Wednesday called Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, to enquire about the progress of polling in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in South Kolkata. Bhabanipur is witnessing a high-profile electoral contest between Adhikari and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, making it one of the most watched seats of the phase.
NIA Team Reaches Bhangar Amid Sporadic Tension
Sporadic tension continued to prevail in the hyper-sensitive Bhangar Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district. A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) reached the constituency in connection with two ongoing investigations — one related to an explosion and another linked to the recovery of crude bombs in the area just before the second phase of polling commenced.
BJP Demands Repolling, Scuffle at Kanchrapara, Agent Arrested in Nadia
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded repolling at Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas, which had in recent days witnessed a public dispute between Election Commission of India (ECI)-appointed police observer Ajay Pal Sharma and All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate from Falta, Jahangir Khan.
At Kanchrapara in North 24 Parganas district, TMC councillor from Kanchrapara Municipality, Kalyan Kar, got into a scuffle with an Independent candidate over the latter allegedly standing within a hundred metres of a polling booth. Police arrived and brought the situation under control.
In Nadia's Chapra Assembly constituency, a TMC polling agent was arrested by central forces personnel deployed at booth 54 on charges of influencing voters. As polling continues, all eyes remain on final turnout figures and whether the second phase sustains the upward trajectory seen since the 2024 general elections.
Point of View
But it masks a more turbulent ground reality. NIA teams in Bhangar, a repolling demand in Falta, and a Home Minister personally calling the Leader of Opposition mid-poll day suggest that institutional pressure — from both the Centre and state — is running at unusually high intensity. The Bhabanipur contest between Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari is no longer just a constituency race; it has become a proxy for the broader BJP-TMC power struggle in Bengal. The real question is whether the higher-than-Lok-Sabha turnout reflects genuine voter enthusiasm or organised mobilisation — and that distinction will only become clear when booth-level data is mapped against incident reports.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the voter turnout in West Bengal Phase 2 elections in the first four hours?
The voter turnout in the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections stood at 39.97% in the first four hours till 11 am on 29 April. This is slightly lower than the 41.1% recorded during the same window in Phase 1 on 23 April.
Which district recorded the highest polling percentage in West Bengal Phase 2?
East Burdwan district recorded the highest polling percentage at 44.50% till 11 am on 29 April. It was followed by Hooghly at 43.12% and Nadia at 40.34%.
Why is the Bhabanipur constituency significant in West Bengal elections?
Bhabanipur in South Kolkata is witnessing a high-profile contest between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. The Union Home Minister personally called Adhikari on polling day to enquire about the progress there, underlining the seat's political importance.
Why did the NIA visit Bhangar constituency during polling?
A National Investigation Agency team reached the hyper-sensitive Bhangar constituency in South 24 Parganas in connection with two ongoing investigations — one related to an explosion and another linked to the recovery of crude bombs in the area just before the second phase of polling.
Why did the BJP demand repolling at Falta constituency?
The BJP demanded repolling at Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas following a public dispute between the ECI-appointed police observer Ajay Pal Sharma and TMC candidate Jahangir Khan over the conduct of polling in the constituency.
