The election results will determine whether Mamata Banerjee can secure a fourth consecutive term or if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will finally break through in West Bengal. The West Bengal Assembly elections were held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, 2026.
The counting of votes for the 293 Assembly seats is scheduled for May 4, 2026. The Election Commission of India has appointed 165 additional counting observers and 77 police observers to oversee the counting process.
Voter turnout was remarkably high, with 92.8% in the first phase and 91.47% in the second phase—this represents the highest turnout since Independence. Both camps claim this record turnout as a mandate in their favor.
However, around 91 lakh voters, approximately 12% of the electorate, were removed from the rolls ahead of the election due to a Special Intensive Revision (SIR). This has raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
Mamata Banerjee is seeking a fourth consecutive term as Chief Minister. The magic number to secure a majority in the 294-member Assembly is 148. The implications of this election could extend beyond state politics, affecting national dynamics.
A repolling for the Falta Assembly seat is scheduled for May 21, 2026, due to reported electoral malpractices. The shadow over this election suggests that no result today will escape controversy.
The CPI(M) and Congress are also hoping to reclaim a foothold in West Bengal after five years in the political wilderness following their wipeout in the 2021 polls. Whatever verdict emerges today, its implications are expected to travel well beyond the corridors of Nabanna.
