Bengal Phase 2 polls: 18.39% turnout in first 2 hours across 142 seats
Synopsis
With 18.39% of voters already out in the first two hours, West Bengal's Phase 2 polls are off to an active start — but the real story is Bhabanipur, where Mamata Banerjee faces Suvendu Adhikari under the watch of 2,407 central force companies and an already-cautioned family member.
Key Takeaways
Voter turnout reached 18.39% by 9 am IST on 29 April 2026 in West Bengal's second-phase polls.
Polling is underway across 142 constituencies in six districts plus Kolkata , beginning at 7 am .
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's brother Kartik Banerjee was cautioned by central forces in Bhabanipur for violating assembly norms.
Congress alleged 'hooliganism' by TMC activists in Rashbehari constituency .
An EVM malfunction delayed polling at a booth in Santipur , Nadia district.
2,407 companies of central forces are deployed across the phase-2 districts.
Voter turnout in the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026 reached 18.39 per cent by 9 am IST on Wednesday, 29 April, as polling got underway across 142 constituencies in six districts, including the state capital Kolkata. Voting commenced at 7 am amid mild tension in several pockets from the very first hour.
Key Developments on Polling Day
The most closely watched contest is in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in South Kolkata, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is locked in a direct battle against Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. Early in the morning, the Chief Minister's brother, Kartik Banerjee, was cautioned by central forces for assembling near a police station with companions exceeding the permitted number. He was directed not to gather near any polling station with more than four persons at a time.
In the adjacent Rashbehari constituency, also in South Kolkata, mild tension broke out over allegations that All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) activists were preventing Congress booth agents from entering a polling booth. The Congress party formally alleged 'hooliganism' by ruling party activists in the constituency.
PM Modi's Appeal to Voters
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday morning issued a social media post urging voters in the 142 constituencies to participate in large numbers.
Point of View
The Chief Minister's own brother, by central forces is a pointed reminder that the Election Commission is watching closely. The real test is whether the unprecedented 2,407-company deployment translates into genuinely free polling in TMC strongholds, or whether booth-level intimidation persists beneath the radar of the security umbrella.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the voter turnout recorded in West Bengal Phase 2 polls by 9 am?
Voter turnout in the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026 was recorded at 18.39 per cent by 9 am IST on 29 April, within the first two hours of polling that began at 7 am.
Which constituencies are voting in West Bengal Phase 2?
A total of 142 constituencies across six districts — North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Howrah, Nadia, and East Burdwan — along with Kolkata are voting in the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026.
What happened at Bhabanipur constituency on polling day?
Kartik Banerjee, brother of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, was cautioned by central forces for assembling near a police station with more than the permitted number of companions. Bhabanipur is the key contest between Mamata Banerjee and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari.
How many central forces are deployed for West Bengal Phase 2 polls?
A total of 2,407 companies of central forces have been deployed, including Central Armed Police Forces, the India Reserve Battalion, and armed police from other states, alongside West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police.
What did PM Modi say about the West Bengal Phase 2 elections?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a social media post on Wednesday morning urging voters in the 142 constituencies to vote in record numbers, with a specific appeal for women and youth of West Bengal to exercise their voting rights.
