West Bengal is set to vote in the first phase of its assembly elections on April 23, with a high-stakes contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The opening phase will cover 152 constituencies across north Bengal and parts of southern districts, with more than 3.60 crore voters eligible to cast their ballots. According to Election Commission data, this includes around 1.84 crore men, 1.75 crore women and 465 third-gender voters. Polling for the West Bengal Assembly election 2026 begins at 7 AM and ends at 6 PM.
The campaign for the first phase concluded on Tuesday, with political parties focusing on issues such as food habits, cross-border infiltration, the Uniform Civil Code, and the revised electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
Top leaders from both the BJP and TMC led extensive outreach efforts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other BJP leaders accused the TMC government of fostering political violence, corruption and infiltration for vote bank politics.
Addressing his final rally, Shah said, "Her time at the helm of the state has come to an end," referring to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Urging voters to participate freely, he added, "No one can threaten our voters. The Election Commission has deployed central forces in sufficient numbers who are spread at every nook and corner of the state."
He also said, "Bhaipo (nephew) will not be Bengal's future CM. He has already purchased his ticket to leave the state after May 4."
The TMC countered the BJP’s allegations, with senior leader Abhishek Banerjee accusing the party of failing to deliver on past promises. “Those who could not deliver on basic promises cannot be trusted to provide welfare benefits,” he said.
He challenged BJP-ruled states, saying, “There are 16 states ruled by the BJP. If even one of them can implement a scheme like ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ for all women without discrimination, I will never come to ask for votes again.”
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed confidence in returning to power for a fourth consecutive term and also targeted the BJP’s national leadership.
"You have to quit the post of the prime minister first for that to happen," she said, responding to Modi’s remarks about contesting all seats.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
