West Bengal Election Update: 78.68% voter turnout recorded till 3 PM

According to the Election Commission (ECI), Purba Bardhaman district topped the charts with the highest voter turnout of 83.11% so far, with Hooghly following with 80.77% turnout.

Post Published By: Sujata Biswal

Updated : 29 April 2026, 4:22 PM IST

West Bengal sees 78.68% voter turnout by 3 PM

Kolkata: West Bengal recorded a voter turnout of 78.68 per cent by 3 pm on Wednesday during the second phase of polling for 142 Assembly seats in the state elections.

According to the Election Commission (ECI), Purba Bardhaman district topped the charts with the highest voter turnout of 83.11% so far, with Hooghly following with 80.77% turnout.

South 24 Paraganas also saw massive participation of people with 76.75% voter turnout. The main fight in West Bengal in the 2026 elections is between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP.

Additionally, Nadia district recorded a turnout of 79.79% while Kolkata North and South recorded 78% and 75.38% voter turnout, respectively, during the same period.

The second phase covers 142 out of 294 seats in West Bengal. The total electorate is around 3.21 crore, with 1,64,35,627 men, 1,57,37,418 women and 792 transgender voters.

1,448 candidates are in the fray, including 220 women at 41,001 polling stations, with over 8,000 managed entirely by women.

In the 2021 elections, the TMC dominated this specific belt, winning 123 of these 142 seats. For the BJP, this phase is about making inroads into the urban "bhadralok" vote and the Matua community. For the TMC, it is about holding the line to ensure a fourth consecutive term for Mamata Banerjee.

The counting of votes will take place on May 4