West Bengal Polls 2026: First Phase Voting to Cover 152 Constituencies

Rafia Tasleem | April 22, 2026 | 08:06 PM IST | Breaking News | Follow on Google News

West Bengal Polls 2026: First Phase Voting to Cover 152 Constituencies

KOLKATA, Apr 23 (VoM News): The political pressure is at its peak, as voting for the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 to commence on Thursday.

This phase will cover 152 constituencies, spanning North Bengal and parts of the southern districts, with a multi-cornered contest underway.

The All India Trinamool Congress, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is eyeing to extend its 15-year rule in West Bengal, continuing the party’s earlier successful victory in the 2021 polls, where it swept the elections with 213 seats.

On the other side, the Bharatiya Janata Party is emerging as the opposition, which had earlier secured 77 seats in the 2021 polls. Suvendu Adhikari and Sukanta Majumdar are leading the party’s campaign in West Bengal. Time will tell whether the Bharatiya Janata Party succeeds in breaking the dominance of the ruling All India Trinamool Congress.

The party led by Mamata Banerjee continues to rely on welfare schemes and its strong grassroots network. Party MP Abhishek Banerjee is believed to be a key figure in the organisational strategy of the Mamata-led party.

The condition of the Congress party is not strong in West Bengal and it continues to grapple with declining influence in the state. While organisational challenges persist, its performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls indicates some residual support.

It will also be interesting to see whether the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which was once a dominant political force in Bengal, can make a comeback.

The Indian Secular Front, led by Naushad Siddique, has also gained attention in certain constituencies, particularly among minority voters, whereas the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, headed by Asaduddin Owaisi, is also attempting to widen its footprint, as the party is contesting more seats compared to previous elections.

Adding to the contest, the Aam Janata Unnayan Party, led by former TMC leader Humayun Kabir, is fielding candidates across a significant number of constituencies.

Pertinent to mention that polling will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29. The counting is scheduled to be held on May 4.

Rafia Tasleem

Rafia Tasleem is a seasoned journalist from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, recognized for her expertise in content writing, investigative research, fact-based reporting, strategic media planning, presentation and lot more. With experience working for both national and international news organizations, she brings a deep understanding of media dynamics. Holding a Master’s in Communication and Media Studies from Aligarh Muslim University, she has been contributing to VoM News for the past two years. For inquiries, contact rafiatasleem@seashell-clam-300365.hostingersite.com.