WB Assembly Elections:
First Phase of West Bengal Voting Begins
Photo Courtesy: Anandabazar.
Voting for the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections has officially commenced in India. Polling began at 7:00 AM across 16 districts and will continue until 6:00 PM.
In this initial stage, 152 seats are up for contention, with over 36 million voters eligible to cast their ballots. The second and final phase of voting is scheduled for April 29, followed by the counting of votes and the declaration of results on May 4.
According to reports from Anandabazar Patrika, long queues of voters were observed at various polling stations since early morning. To ensure a peaceful and transparent election process, the Election Commission has imposed several strict restrictions across the state. These measures include a total ban on alcohol, rigorous controls on motorcycle movement, and instructions for tourists to vacate the resort town of Digha.
Approximately 500,000 personnel, including central forces and local police, have been deployed for election duty. For the first phase alone, a total of 2,407 companies of central forces are on the ground.
The West Bengal Assembly consists of 294 seats. The primary contest is expected to be between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the main opposition, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Any party or alliance that secures 148 seats or more will be able to form the government.
Polling is taking place today in 16 districts, including Nandigram and North Bengal regions such as Darjeeling, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar. Analysts suggest a fierce competition in at least 80 of these seats.
Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress has been in power for three consecutive terms since toppling the 35-year-long Left Front (CPIM) rule in 2011. Many observers believe this could be the party's toughest electoral challenge to date. Similar predictions were made in 2021; however, Banerjee's TMC ultimately won 215 seats, while the BJP secured 77.
While surveys indicate that the Trinamool Congress is poised to win again, pre-poll forecasts suggest a neck-and-neck battle. If the BJP manages to form the government, it would be the first time a government with a Hindutva ideology takes power in West Bengal, marking a significant shift in the state's political landscape.