Updated: April 29, 2026 6:54:08 am IST
West Bengal Election 2026 Live Polling personnel wait in a queue to receive election material at the distribution center of 172 Shibpur assembly constituency in Howrah, ahead of the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly election 2026.
west bengal election 2026 live: Voting for the second and final phase of assembly elections in West Bengal will take place today, April 29, 2026, with over 1,448 candidates, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in the fray in 142 constituencies. Voting will take place at 41,001 polling stations in eight districts.
The current Mamata-led TMC government is seeking a fourth term in Bengal. Chief Minister Mamata is locked in a tough fight with Bharatiya Janata Party’s Suvendu Adhikari on the Bhabanipur seat. BJP leaders are also contesting elections from Nandigram.
BJP wants to secure the mandate this time after getting a better number of 77 seats in the last elections in 2021.
security increased
Special voter list supervisor Subrata Gupta was quoted as saying that security measures were beefed up across the state ahead of voting and around 2,400 companies of CAPFs were deployed. ANI.
“Final preparations are good. We are all set to host the second phase of elections tomorrow across 41,001 polling stations in eight districts of South Bengal. Around 2,400 companies of CAPFs are being deployed to maintain peace and law and order and ensure the safety of voters… We are prepared for the worst. We believe that what has been planned in phase two will bear fruit as a peaceful second phase, we will not report any law and order issues.” Are ready to face it,” Gupta said on Tuesday.
Gupta also said that some contingents will be equipped with body cameras, while all strong room complexes will be guarded by CAPF personnel. “CCTV cameras have been installed at the entry points of the strong room, and the footage will be available to the candidates and their agents,” he said. He said four security personnel will be deployed at each polling booth and at least two web cameras have been installed at every booth.
Controversy has started over the posting of IPS Ajay Pal Sharma.
Ahead of voting, the CRPF conducted a route march in Bhabanipur assembly constituency in south Kolkata on Tuesday.
However, a search operation by the CRPF in Falta constituency led by South 24 Parganas district election observer IPS Ajay Pal Sharma sparked controversy. TMC supporters gathered outside the office of party candidate Jahangir Khan and raised slogans against the security personnel during the search.
TMC supporters accused the Election Commission-appointed police observer of “intimidating” party workers, as senior party leaders and state ministers alleged that the Uttar Pradesh-cadre IPS officer, who has a reputation as an ‘encounter specialist’, was exceeding his role.
Bengal elections 2021
The last assembly elections in Bengal were held in eight phases over about a month between March 27 and April 29 in 2021, with around 85 per cent voter turnout. This was when the deadly second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic began in the country. Mamata’s TMC won 215 seats, while BJP managed to get 77 seats. This election was a major upset for Congress and CPIM as they failed to win even a single seat.
…read more
The current Mamata-led TMC government is seeking a fourth term in Bengal. Chief Minister Mamata is locked in a tough fight with Bharatiya Janata Party’s Suvendu Adhikari on the Bhabanipur seat. BJP leaders are also contesting elections from Nandigram.
BJP wants to secure the mandate this time after getting a better number of 77 seats in the last elections in 2021.
security increased
Special voter list supervisor Subrata Gupta was quoted as saying that security measures were beefed up across the state ahead of voting and around 2,400 companies of CAPFs were deployed. ANI.
“Final preparations are good. We are all set to host the second phase of elections tomorrow across 41,001 polling stations in eight districts of South Bengal. Around 2,400 companies of CAPFs are being deployed to maintain peace and law and order and ensure the safety of voters… We are prepared for the worst. We believe that what has been planned in phase two will bear fruit as a peaceful second phase, we will not report any law and order issues.” Are ready to face it,” Gupta said on Tuesday.
Gupta also said that some contingents will be equipped with body cameras, while all strong room complexes will be guarded by CAPF personnel. “CCTV cameras have been installed at the entry points of the strong room, and the footage will be available to the candidates and their agents,” he said. He said four security personnel will be deployed at each polling booth and at least two web cameras have been installed at every booth.
Controversy has started over the posting of IPS Ajay Pal Sharma.
Ahead of voting, the CRPF conducted a route march in Bhabanipur assembly constituency in south Kolkata on Tuesday.
However, a search operation by the CRPF in Falta constituency led by South 24 Parganas district election observer IPS Ajay Pal Sharma sparked controversy. TMC supporters gathered outside the office of party candidate Jahangir Khan and raised slogans against the security personnel during the search.
TMC supporters accused the Election Commission-appointed police observer of “intimidating” party workers, as senior party leaders and state ministers alleged that the Uttar Pradesh-cadre IPS officer, who has a reputation as an ‘encounter specialist’, was exceeding his role.
Bengal elections 2021
The last assembly elections in Bengal were held in eight phases over about a month between March 27 and April 29 in 2021, with around 85 per cent voter turnout. This was when the deadly second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic began in the country. Mamata’s TMC won 215 seats, while BJP managed to get 77 seats. This election was a major upset for Congress and CPIM as they failed to win even a single seat.
Follow all updates here:
April 29, 2026 6:54:08 am First
Bengal Elections 2026 Live: ISF President says people in Bhangar are being threatened not to vote in viral video
Bengal Elections 2026 Live: Just minutes away from the start of the second phase of voting, ISF president Navsad Siddiqui alleged that a video is going viral showing the gram panchayat chief in Bhangar threatening people not to vote.
“They will not be able to achieve anything by scaring the people of Bhangar… Shaukat will defeat the TMC candidate and send them back home,” the leader told ANI.
April 29, 2026 6:48:11 am First
Bengal Elections 2026 Live: When will voting begin for the final phase?
Bengal Elections 2026 Live: Voting for the second and final phase in West Bengal will begin shortly, at 7 am. Voting will be held in the remaining 142 constituencies today and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is among the candidates. Voting will take place at 41,001 polling stations in eight districts.
April 29, 2026 6:46:19 am First
Bengal Elections 2026 Live: Presiding Officer in East Burdwan says mock polls going well
Bengal Elections 2026 Live: A presiding officer at a polling booth in Purba Burdwan said the mock poll was going well.
Presiding officer Pratima Kaibarta told news agency ANI, “The mock poll started on time and is going well… No one is facing any problem. Good security arrangements have been made…”
April 29, 2026 6:40:17 am First
Bengal Elections 2026 Live: As controversy escalates, petition demands ‘immediate’ removal of IPS Ajay Pal Sharma
Bengal Elections 2026 Live: The political controversy over the posting of IPS Ajay Pal Sharma in Bengal took a legal turn on Tuesday as a petition was filed in the Supreme Court seeking his “immediate removal” as election observer.
The petition, seen by HT, alleges that Sharma had “engaged in acts of intimidation, undue influence and partisan conduct, including threats made to political candidates” after assuming charge as police supervisor. Read the full story Here.
April 29, 2026 6:37:44 am First
Bengal Elections 2026 Live: Mock poll held in South 24 Parganas, Durgapur, Purba Burdwan
Bengal Elections 2026 Live: Ahead of the final phase of voting starting at 7 am, mock polls were conducted in East Burdwan, Durgapur, Nadia, Ballygunge and South 24 Parganas, among others, in Bengal.
April 29, 2026 6:34:25 am First
Bengal Elections 2026 Live: Queues form outside polling stations in Kolkata, South 24 Parganas
Bengal Elections 2026 Live: Ahead of the final phase of voting starting at 7 am, people started queuing up at polling stations in parts of West Bengal, including Kolkata and South 24 Parganas.
April 29, 2026 6:21:45 am First
Bengal Elections 2026 Live: Second and final phase of voting today, Mamata Banerjee also in the fray
Bengal Elections 2026 Live: West Bengal will vote in the second and final phase today, April 29, and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is among the 1,448 candidates in the fray.
She is contesting from Bhabanipur seat against BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, who is also contesting from Nandigram. The results of the elections will be declared on May 4.
