West Bengal Poll Campaign Ends, Silence Period Begins Ahead of High-Stakes First Phase

Kolkata, April 2026 : Campaigning for the first phase of the two-phase West Bengal Assembly elections came to a close at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, ushering in the mandatory 48-hour silence period ahead of polling scheduled for April 23. The conclusion of campaigning marks a crucial juncture in what has been an intense and politically charged electoral battle across the state.

The first phase will cover 152 Assembly constituencies spread across 16 districts, including key regions in North Bengal such as Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, and Malda, as well as districts in South Bengal like Murshidabad, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura, West Bardhaman, and Birbhum. Among these, seven districts are under special surveillance by the Election Commission due to security sensitivities.

A total of 1,478 candidates are contesting in this phase, reflecting the scale and competitiveness of the elections. To facilitate voters, the Election Commission has introduced enhanced features on electronic voting machines (EVMs), including coloured photographs of candidates along with their names, serial numbers, and symbols in larger fonts for easier identification.

Polling will be conducted under unprecedented security arrangements. As many as 2,407 companies of central forces, including personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces, India Reserve Battalion, and armed police units of various states, have been deployed. These forces will work alongside the West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police to ensure peaceful and orderly voting.

The electoral contest in most constituencies is expected to be multi-cornered. The प्रमुख players include the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Front, the Congress, and the All India Secular Front (AISF). In several regions, especially minority-dominated districts like Malda and Murshidabad, additional political forces such as the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and new regional outfits are likely to influence outcomes.

The hill constituencies of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong are witnessing particularly complex contests, with as many as five political formations in the fray. These include alliances and regional parties backed by both national and state-level players, making the electoral dynamics in these areas especially unpredictable.

The campaign leading up to this phase saw aggressive outreach by top leaders across parties. Union Home Minister Amit Shah spearheaded the BJP’s efforts, targeting the ruling TMC on issues such as corruption, law and order, crimes against women, and economic management. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on the other hand, focused her campaign on governance achievements while strongly criticising the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, alleging large-scale voter deletions.

Left Front and AISF leaders directed their criticism primarily at the ruling TMC, accusing it of governance failures and alleging a tacit understanding between the TMC and BJP. Congress leaders, meanwhile, concentrated their attacks largely on the BJP, positioning themselves as an alternative force.

With campaigning now over, strict enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct is in place. Public rallies, meetings, and any form of election-related publicity are prohibited during the silence period. Authorities will closely monitor compliance to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful voting process.

As the state gears up for polling, all eyes are now on voter turnout and the eventual outcome of what promises to be a fiercely contested election.