West Bengal Set for Final Phase of Assembly Polls Across 142 Seats Under Tight Security

New Delhi, April 2026 : The stage is set for the decisive second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections, with polling scheduled on Wednesday across 142 constituencies spanning six districts and the state capital, Kolkata. Authorities have put in place unprecedented security arrangements to ensure a smooth and peaceful voting process.

Polling teams were dispatched on Tuesday to their designated stations, carrying Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) devices, and other essential materials. Election officials have completed logistical preparations, signalling readiness for one of the largest single-phase electoral exercises in the state.

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), a total of 3,21,73,837 registered voters are eligible to cast their votes in this phase, accounting for nearly 64 per cent of the population across these constituencies. The electorate includes 1,64,35,627 male voters, 1,57,37,418 female voters, and 792 third gender voters. All registered voters have been issued Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPICs), ensuring streamlined identification at polling booths.

The voter base reflects significant diversity, including 3,243 centenarian voters aged 100 years and above, and 1,96,801 voters aged 85 or older. Additionally, there are 146 Non-Resident Indian (NRI) voters and 39,961 service voters, underscoring the broad participation expected in the electoral process.

A total of 1,448 candidates are contesting in this phase, with 1,228 male and 220 female candidates. Notably, there are no third gender candidates in the fray. Among the constituencies, 107 are general seats, while 34 are reserved for Scheduled Castes and one for Scheduled Tribes.

Geographically, the polling will cover districts including Nadia, East Burdwan, Hooghly, South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, and Howrah, along with Kolkata. The Bhangar constituency in South 24 Parganas has the highest number of candidates at 15, while constituencies in Hooghly district have the lowest, with five candidates each.

There is also considerable variation in constituency size and voter distribution. Jorasanko Assembly constituency is the smallest by area at just 3.48 square kilometres, whereas Kalyani Assembly constituency spans 135 square kilometres, making it the largest. In terms of electorate size, Bhatpara Assembly constituency has the fewest voters at 1,17,195, while Chuchura Assembly constituency has the highest at 2,75,715.

Out of the 142 constituencies, 120 have more than two lakh voters each, reflecting the scale and intensity of the electoral exercise. Only six constituencies have electorates between one lakh and 1.5 lakh, while 17 fall in the range of 1.5 lakh to two lakh voters.

A total of 41,001 polling stations have been set up, including 39,301 main polling stations and 1,700 auxiliary stations, to facilitate smooth voting and manage voter turnout efficiently. All polling stations will be equipped with webcasting facilities to enhance transparency and monitoring.

Security arrangements have been significantly strengthened, with the deployment of 2,407 companies of central forces, including Central Armed Police Forces and the India Reserve Battalion, alongside personnel from state police units such as the West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police.

Officials have emphasised that extensive measures have been taken to ensure free, fair, and peaceful polling. The results of the elections will be announced on May 4, bringing an end to a closely watched electoral contest in the state.