West Bengal Gears Up for Crucial Phase-II Polls Amid Heavy Security Cover on April 29

Kolkata, April 2026 : The stage is set for the second phase of Assembly elections in West Bengal, with polling scheduled across 142 constituencies spread over multiple districts, including the state capital Kolkata, on April 29. Authorities have put in place unprecedented security arrangements to ensure a smooth, free, and fair voting process.

Polling teams have already been dispatched to their respective stations, equipped with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs), and other necessary materials. Election officials have completed logistical preparations, signaling full readiness for the crucial phase.

According to the Election Commission of India, a total of 3,21,73,837 registered voters are eligible to cast their votes in this phase. This figure represents nearly 64 percent of the total population of over five crore in these constituencies. Among the voters, 1,64,35,627 are men, 1,57,37,418 are women, and 792 belong to the third gender category. All registered voters have been issued Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPICs), ensuring streamlined participation.

The electorate also includes a significant number of senior citizens, with 3,243 voters aged above 100 years and nearly 1.97 lakh voters aged 85 and above. Additionally, there are 146 Non-Resident Indian (NRI) voters and close to 40,000 service voters, reflecting the diverse voter base in the state.

A total of 1,448 candidates are contesting in this phase, comprising 1,228 men and 220 women. Notably, there are no candidates from the third gender category. Of the 142 constituencies, 107 fall under the general category, 34 are reserved for Scheduled Castes, and one is reserved for Scheduled Tribes.

The constituencies are spread across six districts—Nadia, East Burdwan, Hooghly, South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, and Howrah—along with Kolkata. Among them, Bhangar in South 24 Parganas has the highest number of candidates at 15, while Hooghly records the lowest at five.

Geographically, the Jorasanko Assembly constituency in Kolkata is the smallest, covering just 3.48 square kilometres, whereas Kalyani in Nadia district is the largest, spanning 135 square kilometres. In terms of electorate size, Bhatpara in North 24 Parganas has the fewest voters at just over 1.17 lakh, while Chuchura in Hooghly has the highest at approximately 2.75 lakh.

Polling will take place across 41,001 stations, including 39,301 main polling booths and 1,700 auxiliary stations. Authorities have arranged webcasting at all polling stations to enhance transparency and monitor proceedings in real time.

Security has been significantly strengthened, with the deployment of 2,407 companies of central forces, including Central Armed Police Forces and India Reserve Battalion personnel, supplemented by state police and Kolkata Police. The extensive deployment aims to prevent any untoward incidents and maintain law and order during voting.

With all preparations in place, voters are set to exercise their democratic rights in one of the most closely watched phases of the election. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4, when the results will determine the political direction of the state.