Nearly 3,000 Candidates in Fray as West Bengal Gears Up for Two-Phase Assembly Polls

Kolkata, April 2026 : The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday announced that a total of 2,926 candidates will contest the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, setting the stage for a high-stakes political battle in the state. According to an official press note, polling will be conducted in two phases—on April 23 and April 29—while the results will be declared on May 4.

The poll body stated that 1,478 candidates are contesting across 152 constituencies in the first phase, while 1,448 candidates are in the fray for 142 constituencies in the second phase. The figures underline the intensity of the electoral contest in one of India’s most politically significant states.

As per the ECI schedule, the last date for filing nominations for the second phase was April 9. Scrutiny of nomination papers was completed on April 10, and candidates were given time until 3:00 pm on April 13 to withdraw their nominations. Following this, the final list of candidates has been prepared and Returning Officers have been directed to publish it in the official gazette.

The Commission has also instructed officials to securely preserve all election-related documents, including nomination papers, in sealed envelopes to ensure transparency and procedural integrity. In a move aimed at improving voter convenience, ballot papers used in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will feature colour photographs of candidates, along with their serial numbers and election symbols, making identification easier for voters.

The elections are expected to witness a fierce contest between the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The TMC, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is seeking a fourth consecutive term in power. Meanwhile, the BJP, which made significant electoral gains in the previous assembly elections, is aiming to unseat the incumbent government and form the next administration.

The political atmosphere has already heated up, with leaders from both camps intensifying their campaign rhetoric. A day earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a sharp attack on the TMC government, raising the issue of infiltration along the India-Bangladesh border. He asserted that if the BJP comes to power in West Bengal, it would expedite the process of land acquisition required to complete border fencing with Bangladesh.

Addressing public rallies, Shah also issued a stern warning to alleged TMC supporters involved in violence, urging them to stay indoors during polling. He criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for what he described as attempts to instil fear among communities, and questioned the state government’s handling of past incidents of unrest, including riots in Murshidabad.

With the campaign gaining momentum and political stakes running high, West Bengal is poised for a closely fought election, with both major parties making aggressive efforts to secure voter support ahead of polling day.