US EditionWest Bengal Election 2026 LIVE UPDATES: Voting Underway Across 152 Seats as PM Modi Urges Turnout; Leaders Cast Votes, Trade Charges
Election officials deployed 2,450 central force companies as 3.60 crore voters chose among 1,452 candidates in the first phase.
- On Thursday, April 23, 2026, West Bengal began Phase 1 of its Assembly elections, with 152 constituencies across 16 districts going to the polls and nearly 3.60 crore voters eligible to determine the fate of 1,452 candidates.
- The Election Commission of India deployed 2,450 companies of central paramilitary forces to secure polling stations, following a Special Intensive Revision exercise that deleted more than 91 lakh names and reduced the electorate by nearly 12 per cent.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to participate in "this festival of democracy" as the BJP seeks to challenge Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, which won 93 of these 152 seats in 2021.
- Voting proceeded largely peacefully, though some EVM malfunctions were reported, while Aam Janata Unnayan Party founder Humayun Kabir alleged the Trinamool Congress is "selling tickets" and buying off his candidates with money.
- The remaining 142 constituencies will vote on April 29, with final results announced on May 4, as political parties focus on these initial phases to build momentum toward the election outcome.
17 Articles
17 Articles
WB Polls Phase 1: Polling Underway in Birbhum, Officials Say EVMs Functioning Smoothly
Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. Polling is underway at a polling station in Birbhum as voting began at 7 am for the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections on Thursday, with officials confirming that arrangements are in place for a smooth process. India News | WB Polls Phase 1: Polling Underway in Birbhum, Officials Say EVMs Functioning Smoothly.
West Bengal election 2026 LIVE UPDATES: Voting underway across 152 seats as PM Modi urges turnout; leaders cast votes, trade charges
West Bengal election 2026 LIVE updates: Phase 1 voting begins across 152 seats, mock polls held, security tightened, and key campaign developments tracked through the day.
West Bengal Phase 1 Polling LIVE: Suvendu Adhikari confident of 'parivartan' in fight against Mamata Banerjee
The polling for the high-stake assembly elections in West Bengal that will decide the fate of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her government is being held here on Thursday (April 23). The polling in the state is being held in two phases, with 152 assembly constituencies -- including all 54 in north Bengal's eight districts and several in Murshidabad, Nadia, Birbhum and Hooghly -- going to vote in the phase one on Thursday. Banerjee and her Tr…
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