Kolkata, Apr 29:
Voting for the second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 is underway, with intense focus on the high-profile contest in Bhabanipur between Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress and Suvendu Adhikari of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Bhabanipur has remained a stronghold of the Trinamool Congress since 2011, with Mamata Banerjee holding the seat and building a strong political base in the constituency. The current contest is being seen as a symbolic and closely watched battle, especially after Adhikariās victory over Banerjee in Nandigram during the 2021 elections.
The second phase covers 142 constituencies across seven key districts, forming the political core of the state, including Kolkata and its adjoining regions. In the 2021 Assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress dominated these seats, winning 123 constituencies, while the BJP secured 18 and the Left managed just one seat.
Polling began early in the morning amid tight security arrangements, with voters lining up across urban and semi-urban constituencies. Authorities have deployed central forces extensively to ensure peaceful and fair elections, given the history of poll-related tensions in the state.
The outcome of this phase is expected to play a decisive role in determining the overall electoral verdict, particularly in south Bengal, which has traditionally been a Trinamool bastion but remains a key target for the BJPās expansion plans.
Both parties have mounted aggressive campaigns, with the Trinamool focusing on welfare measures and governance, while the BJP has targeted alleged corruption and law-and-order issues.
The results, scheduled to be announced on May 4, are expected to shape the political trajectory of West Bengal for the coming years.