West Bengal Polls 2026: Campaigning ends for Phase-1, 152 Seats Set for Voting

Senior leaders from all major parties held back-to-back rallies and roadshows on the last day, attempting to sway undecided voters. With the campaign period now over, the Election Commission of India has enforced a strict 48-hour silence period, barring any public campaigning. Dry days have also been declared in the poll-bound regions.

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Over 3.6 Crore Voters Eligible

According to official data, a total of 36,077,171 voters are eligible to cast their votes in the first phase. This includes 18,499,496 male voters, 17,577,210 female voters, and 465 third-gender electors. Officials noted that the figures may undergo minor revisions once final updates from tribunals are incorporated.

Tight Security, 8,000+ Super-Sensitive Booths

Security has been significantly intensified to ensure peaceful polling. The Election Commission has identified over 8,000 polling booths as super-sensitive, where additional deployment of central armed police forces, surveillance teams, and quick response units has been made.

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Authorities have also ordered strict monitoring in border areas, with certain vulnerable zones sealed to prevent any untoward incidents. Officials said the focus remains on conducting free, fair, and violence-free elections.

With high stakes and intense political contest, all eyes are now on April 23, when voters across West Bengal will cast their ballots in the first phase of polling.