West Bengal Election 2026 Highlights: Women turnout at 92.28% in phase 2, surpasses male electorate

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Following the conclusion of the high-decibel second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has projected a decisive mandate for his party, claiming that a "new, saffronised Bengal" will emerge on counting day. Speaking after the close of polls, Adhikari asserted that voter turnout in his constituency of Bhabanipur had surged past 90%, signalling a massive wave of support for "Parivartan." Thanking BJP workers for their relentless "hard work," he expressed absolute confidence in winning the seat by a margin of over 30,000 votes and predicted the BJP would secure no fewer than 180 seats statewide to form the next government on May 4.  

The polling day, however, was marked by sharp allegations from Adhikari against the ruling Trinamool Congress. The BJP leader accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of attempting to "threaten" the local police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) while moving through the constituency with "goonda elements." Adhikari claimed that he remained active across the booths to "instil confidence" in the electorate despite these alleged intimidation tactics.

Security remained a flashpoint as Adhikari detailed two specific incidents of aggression during the day. He alleged that "Bangladeshi Muslims" targeted him by raising "Joy Bangla" slogans and claimed that "Jamateismali supporters" attempted an attack when he visited the Iqbalpur area after 5 PM. While Adhikari noted that the police eventually controlled the situation in Iqbalpur, he framed these encounters as part of a broader pattern of resistance against the political change he believes is now inevitable. Adhikari concluded by stating that the high participation from the Hindu community confirms a fundamental shift in the state's political landscape.

Trinamool Congress leaders on Wednesday rubbished exit polls that predicted a clear edge for the BJP in West Bengal, with Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien questioning the credibility of such projections.

In a post on X, O'Brien pointed out that several exit polls had missed the mark during the last West Bengal assembly elections.

"Credibility of exit polls? Bengal polls 2021. How off the mark were the predictions from the final results," he said, sharing data from three exit polls that had forecast a close contest between the TMC and the BJP. The TMC eventually secured a decisive victory.

O'Brien shared a slide citing three exit polls from 2021, which had projected 143-162 seats for the TMC and 115-“147 for the BJP. However, the TMC went on to win 215 seats, while the BJP secured 77.

The party's former Rajya Sabha member Saket Gokhale also weighed in, saying that while exit polls often suggest a "close contest" in West Bengal, electoral mandates in the state have historically been decisive.

"Exit polls generally play it safe by calling it a 'close contest' in Bengal. Except that mandates in Bengal are never 'close'. They're always decisive," Gokhale said in a post on X.

"No reliable exit poll (if such things exist) is predicting a thumping 180+ 'BJP wave'. My claim on record: TMC will form the government on May 4 in Bengal with a massive mandate," he added.

In West Bengal, while most exit polls predicted a BJP win, two pollsters – People's Pulse and Janmat – projected a comfortable victory for the Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee.

People's Pulse estimated 177–187 seats for the TMC, 95-110 for the BJP, 0-1 for the Left Front and 1-3 for the Congress. Janmat projected 195-205 seats for the TMC, 80-90 for the BJP alliance, and 1-3 for the Congress.

Most other pollsters, however, gave the BJP an edge. Matrize projected 146–161 seats for the BJP and 125-140 for the TMC, while P-Marq forecast 150-175 for the BJP and 118-138 for the TMC.

Poll Diary estimated 142–171 seats for the BJP, 99-127 for the TMC and 3-5 for the Congress. Praja Poll predicted a strong BJP performance, projecting 178-208 seats for the party, while estimating 85–110 seats for the TMC.

West Bengal has a total of 294 assembly seats, with the majority mark set at 148.

In a significant display of democratic engagement across West Bengal, female voters consistently outpaced their male counterparts throughout the assembly elections. During the second phase on Wednesday, women recorded a 92.28% turnout, surpassing the 91.07% participation rate of male voters. This trend followed a strong showing in the first phase, where female turnout reached 94.1% against 92.34% for the male electorate. When accounting for both phases of polling combined, the final figures consolidate this trend, with women maintaining a lead at 93.24% participation compared to 91.74% for men.

In phase two of the West Bengal assembly polls, Purba Bardhaman reported a 93.60% turnout, the highest among all the districts in the state. Kolkata South, on the other hand, reported the lowest turnout with 87.59% of total voters.

In a landmark shift in West Bengal’s political history, the state’s Chief Electoral Officer, Manoj Agarwal, announced today that voter participation is expected to hit a record 93% following the conclusion of the second and final phase of the 2026 Assembly elections. With current data showing a turnout of 92.47%, the state has surpassed all previous benchmarks, including the historic 2011 polls. Agarwal, who personally monitored several booths in Alipore that recorded over 80% voting, described the figures as "historic" and attributed the surge to a newfound voter confidence in the security and transparency of the process.

The 2026 elections stood in stark contrast to the bloodshed of previous cycles. While the 2021 elections saw 24 deaths and over 60 incidents of bombing, this year’s polling recorded zero deaths and a total absence of bombing. This peaceful environment was maintained by a massive deployment of 5 lakh staff, supported by SDO and WBCS-rank officers. Security was further tightened by the CRPF, which was given sole responsibility for the 100-meter perimeter around booths, protecting webcasting equipment and ensuring that no unauthorised persons could interfere with the queue.

A significant "marked departure" from the past was the role of digital surveillance. CEO Agarwal noted that 100% webcasting acted as a powerful deterrent against booth jamming. There was not a single reported incident of a booth agent being forcibly removed, a common complaint in previous years. Under strict new directives, any such interference caught on camera would lead to immediate imprisonment. While the second phase on April 23rd remained entirely free of agent intimidation, some minor friction was reported in the first phase, though it did not disrupt the overall peace.

The state police and paramilitary forces achieved a major security breakthrough, conducting a vast preventive operation that saw 67,517 people arrested or bound down. This sweep resulted in the seizure of 397 arms and 1,383 crude bombs. Specific arrests were made in districts like Barrackpore (76) and Purba Bardhaman (74). Officials noted that while most preventive detentions were only for the duration of the polling day, they were instrumental in preventing the "bomb culture" that characterised earlier elections in 2016 and 2021.

Despite the high success rate, technical issues led to minor disruptions. Authorities received a total of 77 complaints regarding black tape or adhesive being placed on EVM buttons, with the highest numbers coming from Falta (32), Diamond Harbour (29), and Mograhat (13). Due to these reports of potential tampering, Agarwal confirmed that repolling is likely in Falta and must be concluded by May 2nd.

As the state reflects on a transition from violence to a high-participation democratic exercise, there is already a growing appeal to the Election Commission to consider shifting to a single-phase election in the future. With Kolkata North and South both crossing the 85% mark and stakeholders handling the process with unprecedented maturity, the 2026 polls have set a new gold standard for the state’s electoral conduct.

The Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, hailed the high voter turnout in West Bengal. 

"Highest ever percentage of polling in West Bengal in both Phase I & II since Independence - Chunav ka Parv, Paschim Bengal ka Garv," said Gyanesh Kumar.

The voter turnout was recorded at 91.88 per cent in West Bengal after the phase two polling ended in Bengal. 

West Bengal witnessed an 89.99% turnout in Bengal at 5 pm for 142 seats. The turnout surpassed 2021 numbers for the same seats.

The voter turnout in Bhabanipur was recorded at 85.51 per cent amid incidents of tussles throughout the day. 

In Bhabanipur, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting against the Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari.

700 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces will be deployed in West Bengal after polling, as per the statement of the Election Commission. The central forces will work to control the law and order situation after polling. 

The ruling Trinamool Congress has hit out at the BJP over the stay of central forces. It said that the BJP is scared of losing.

Suvendu Adhikari was seen drinking Thumbs Up from a poll agent in the Bhabanipur assembly constituency. 

"She called me and gave me cold drinks. It is very hot here, and I drank it," Adhilkari said. 

Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee lashed out at the central forces on the final day of the West Bengal polls. 

"In Udaynarayanpur, an elderly man went to cast his vote with his son. Too frail to walk unaided, his son tried to help him into the booth. Central Forces pushed and manhandled both. The old man collapsed, was rushed to Amta Hospital and declared dead on arrival," Banerjee wrote on X. 

Accusing the forces of working as BJP's private army, he further mentioned, "Since dawn, these Central Forces have been terrorising ordinary citizens- slapping women, assaulting the elderly, attacking even children. This is the SITALKUCHI MENTALITY of 2021: cold-blooded, merciless violence against unarmed civilians. BJP paid a heavy price for the blood of innocents in 2021. They will pay an even heavier price in 2026." 

He also compared central forces with butchers. 

89.99% of people voted in the second phase of the Bengal Assembly polls till 5 pm. 

East Burdwan district witnessed the highest turnout of voters with 92.46%. The lowest turnout was witnessed in Kolkata South with 86.11%.

BJP MP Anurag Thakur took a jibe at the Trinamool Congress as he said that the people of Bengal would not forgive the Trinamool Congress government for its alleged misrule in the state. 

"The public will not forgive them (TMC) for their misrule; they don't want Jungle Raj, illegal infiltration, atrocities against women and unemployment...People have voted overwhelmingly in support of the BJP," Thakur said. 

The Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, will be addressing the press at 6 pm once the poll comes to an end. 

The press conference will take place at 6 pm at the BJP office in Bhabanipur.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the Trinamool Congress will secure a victory in the assembly election with a two-thirds majority. 

The announcement came amid incidents of turmoil that were witnessed across the state and even in her constituency, Bhabanipur.

High drama once again unfolded in Bengal's Bhabanipur constituency, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is taking on the Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari. 

On Wednesday evening, Adhikari was gheraoed by a section of Trinamool Congress workers who raised the Joy Bangla slogan when Adhikari was on his booth inspection drive. 

Earlier this morning, Adhikari faced the wrath of the Trinamool Congress supporters, who gheraoed him and called him a thief. 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on the phase 2 polling day, lashed out at the central forces, accusing them of torturing voters. 

"The CRPF personnel and central observers are beating people; they have not even spared women and children. Since last night, they have started atrocities," Banerjee said on his home turf, Bhabanipur, which went through incidents of turmoil.

He also said that the central forces have taken many of the TMC workers into custody, which violates the principles of electoral democracy in India. 

"How many of our people have they taken into custody? This is contempt of court. I have never seen such democracy," Banerjee said. 

However, she asserted that Trinamool would win a thumping majority despite the alleged nexus between the BJP, the central forces, and the Election Commission. '

"We will win, TMC is winning," Banerjee concluded. 

The Election Commission of India said the allegations of EVM tampering will be investigated. The poll body has also said that repolls will be conducted in booths in Falta if the allegations are proven true. 

On the second-phase polling day, BJP candidate Debangshu Panda from the Falta constituency accused the ruling party of deliberately preventing voters from casting their ballots in favour of the BJP by jamming the EVM buttons. He lodged a complaint with the poll body, based on which the ECI ordered a probe into the incident. 

Meanwhile, repolling in booths will occur if the District Magistrates of their respective districts corroborate all complaints and submit to the ECI. The poll body will then take a call.