Mithun Chakraborty predicts 90% turnout in West Bengal polls Phase 2
Synopsis
Mithun Chakraborty's 90% turnout prediction, Abhaya's mother entering the fray on a BJP ticket, and allegations of gun-butt violence at a Chapra polling booth — West Bengal's second phase is shaping up to be anything but routine, with 142 constituencies and the R.G. Kar case shadow looming large.
Key Takeaways
Mithun Chakraborty predicted 90% voter turnout in West Bengal Assembly elections Phase 2 on 29 April .
Polling began at 7 am across 142 constituencies in six districts , including Kolkata .
Abhaya's mother is contesting on a BJP ticket , nearly 20 months after the R.G.
Kar rape and murder case.
BJP candidate Ratna Debnath raised concerns about EVM machine delays during voting.
BJP's Saikat Sarkar alleged a booth agent was attacked with a gun butt, stick, and rod in Chapra constituency.
Former Rajya Sabha MP Roopa Ganguly urged voters to carry Election Commission voter slips to booths.
Actor and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mithun Chakraborty cast his vote on Wednesday, 29 April during the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections and expressed confidence that voter turnout could reach 90 per cent. Polling began at 7 am across 142 constituencies in six districts, including the state capital Kolkata.
Mithun's Confidence on Turnout
Speaking to reporters after casting his ballot, Chakraborty said, "From what I am seeing, I feel that turnout may go up to 90 per cent today. If that happens, one can understand what it indicates." His remarks signalled optimism among BJP ranks about a strong anti-incumbency wave, though the party stopped short of making an explicit claim.
Abhaya's Mother Enters the Arena
Nearly 20 months after the R.G. Kar Medical College rape and murder case — in which the victim, widely referred to as Abhaya, lost her life — her mother has stepped into the political arena. Contesting on a BJP ticket, she told reporters her fight is driven by the demand for accountability and justice for her daughter. Her candidacy has drawn significant public attention, connecting the ongoing electoral contest to one of West Bengal's most high-profile criminal cases.
EVM Concerns and Poll Violence Allegations
BJP candidate Ratna Debnath, who also cast her vote during the phase, raised concerns over the voting process. "I think the EVM machine sound appears to be delayed. There seems to be some disturbance in the machine," she told reporters. Meanwhile, BJP candidate from the Chapra Assembly constituency, Saikat Sarkar, alleged a violent incident in the early hours. He claimed, "At 6 a.m., our booth agent was on his way to the polling station along with other party members. A goon associated with the Trinamool Congress candidate, identified as Mofidul, allegedly attacked him with the butt of a gun, a stick, and a rod. He has been admitted to the hospital." The allegations, attributed to Sarkar, could not be independently verified at the time of reporting.
Other BJP Candidates Urge Voters to Participate
BJP candidate for Bagda Assembly, Soma Thakur, appealed to citizens to exercise their franchise, saying, "I would like to appeal to all the people of the state to come forward and cast their vote." BJP leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Roopa Ganguly, contesting from Sonarpur Dakshin, cast her vote at Rajendra Shiksha Sadan Girls High School in Tollygunge and urged voters to carry their Election Commission voter slips to polling booths. BJP candidate Swapan Dasgupta from the Rashbehari constituency struck an optimistic note, pointing out that the first phase had recorded high turnout with minimal violence, and expressing hope that the second phase would continue that trend.
What to Watch Next
With 142 constituencies going to the polls in this phase, the final turnout figures and any verified incidents of poll violence will be closely scrutinised by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The outcome of this phase is expected to further shape the political narrative ahead of the remaining phases of the West Bengal Assembly elections.
Point of View
Potentially energising a constituency that feels justice remains elusive. Allegations of EVM irregularities and early-morning violence, while unverified, follow a familiar pattern in West Bengal elections and will test whether the Election Commission can enforce its own conduct benchmarks. The real story here is not just turnout — it is whether the second phase delivers on Swapan Dasgupta's hope of a 'new, peaceful chapter' or repeats the violence that has long shadowed the state's electoral history.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Mithun Chakraborty say about voter turnout in West Bengal Phase 2?
Mithun Chakraborty predicted that voter turnout could reach 90 per cent in the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections on 29 April. He made the remark after casting his vote, suggesting the high turnout would carry a clear political message.
How many constituencies are voting in West Bengal Assembly elections Phase 2?
A total of 142 constituencies across six districts, including the state capital Kolkata, are going to the polls in the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, with polling commencing at 7 am on 29 April.
Who is Abhaya's mother and why is she contesting the West Bengal elections?
Abhaya's mother is the parent of the R.G. Kar Medical College rape and murder victim, widely known as Abhaya. Nearly 20 months after her daughter's death, she is contesting the West Bengal Assembly elections on a BJP ticket, saying her candidacy is driven by the demand for accountability and justice.
What violence was alleged during West Bengal Phase 2 polling?
BJP candidate Saikat Sarkar from Chapra constituency alleged that a booth agent was attacked at 6 am by a person identified as Mofidul, allegedly associated with the Trinamool Congress candidate, using the butt of a gun, a stick, and a rod. The agent was reportedly hospitalised. The allegation has not been independently verified.
What concerns did BJP candidates raise about EVMs in West Bengal Phase 2?
BJP candidate Ratna Debnath stated that the EVM sound appeared delayed and suggested there was some disturbance in the machine. The concerns were raised verbally to reporters; no formal complaint details were immediately available.
