West Bengal Election 2026 Highlights: Total turnout climbs to 92.49%; West Bengal CEO says Kolkata saw ‘historic voting’

Trinamool Congress leaders 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. — PTI

Congress candidate from Nazira assembly constituency and Leader of Opposition in Assam Assembly, Debabrata Saikia, on Wednesday, asserted that the "common people have not voted for BJP," after exit polls projected another term for the NDA government in the north-eastern state.

Speaking with ANI, Saikia slammed the BJP for not fulfilling the promises made to the state a decade ago. Without paying much heed to the exit polls, he said that the BJP brought "bad days" for Assam instead of "good days.

"I don't pay much attention to exit polls, but the common man didn't vote for the BJP this time. I know this because elections are fought on issues. The BJP gave us a vision document for 10 years, but none of its promises was fulfilled. Instead of good times, bad times came for Assam. Unemployment is a major issue in Assam, with more than 3.3 million unemployed youth. Nothing was done about that. Because of this, change was needed. None of this happened. There's more corruption than before, and all the promises made haven't been fulfilled," he said. — ANI

CEC Gyanesh Kumar says: “Highest ever percentage of polling in West Bengal in both Phase I & II since Independence - Chunav ka Parv, Paschim Bengal ka Garv”.

Voter turnout surged across key districts in West Bengal during Phase 2 of the Assembly elections, with participation levels crossing 90% in most regions, underscoring a highly engaged electorate.

Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) GP Singh on Wednesday visited the Chetla Bhabanipur Booth in Bhabanipur Assembly constituency. During the visit, he interacted with the stakeholders and briefed the troops on duty.

"On the day of Phase 2 polling in WB, DG @crpfindia Shri @gpsinghips visited Chetla Bhabanipur Booth. He interacted with stakeholders & briefed troops on duty. The message is loud & clear: ensure peaceful & fair voting as per @ECISVEEP norms," CRPF wrote on X.

Earlier, on Tuesday, the CRPF conducted a route march in the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in South Kolkata ahead of the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections.

Moreover, CRPF Deputy Commandant Nil Kamal Bharadwaj had noted that personnel have been deployed to patrol all constituencies in Kolkata ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections. — ANI

Amid fierce contests and bitter exchanges of words during West Bengal's second and final phase of polling on Wednesday, a rare scene of political warmth stood out in Nadia district.

A BJP candidate's gesture of goodwill towards rival Trinamool Congress workers at their camp emerged as an unlikely moment of civility.

The BJP's Nawadip candidate and Hindu preacher Shruti Shekhar Goswami was seen interacting cordially with local TMC activists at their polling camp.

"Everyone is free to do politics of their choice throughout the day, but in the evening, people (of different political beliefs) should be able to sit together and have tea. Why should personal relationships be destroyed?" Goswami told PTI.

People may support different political parties, but human ties should not break, he said.

The gesture drew appreciation from his rival camp as well.

"He (Goswami) is a respected religious figure and also a candidate of another party. We felt very good that he came and sat with us and spoke warmly. Political differences will remain, but this healthy conversation felt good," a local leader of the TMC said, sitting in the camp. — PTI

Trinamool Congress candidate from Canning Paschim Assembly constituency, Paresh Ram Das, on Wednesday, alleged that CRPF personnel beat a TMC polling agent and dragged him outside the booth.

The TMC candidate said they will complain against the CRPF officer involved in the alleged incident. He said CRPF personnel alleged that there was a complaint against the polling agent.

"Pradeep Das, polling agent in one of the booths, who was beaten by the CRPF personnel and dragged outside of the booth, saying that a complaint has been lodged against him...We will complain against the CRPF officer and take legal action against him," Paresh Ram Das said. — ANI

As per ECI’s deployment plan for CAPF in West Bengal issued on March 19, 2026, after completion of poll today, 700 companies of CAPF shall continue to remain deployed in the state for security arrangements and law & order duties, till further orders. — PTI

Are Bengalis not being trusted, asked veteran politician and three-time former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah, on Wednesday while slamming the Election Commission for the deployment of a large contingent of central police forces and bureaucrats during the West Bengal polls.

Abdullah, who is the president of the ruling National Conference, condemned the rhetoric used by national leaders against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, describing the language as "unparliamentary and not befitting this nation".

Emphasising that a strong India requires respecting its citizens, he told PTI, "If you want a strong India, then Bengalis have the right to choose their leadership without being coerced towards any other direction." Abdullah lashed out at the approach of some quarters in the government towards state elections and regional identities, specifically questioning if the people of West Bengal "are being treated as outsiders" within their own country. — PTI

TMC candidate Shashi Panja casts her vote at Keshav Academy in ward no. 26 and displays her inked finger; says voting is being conducted peacefully in her constituency.

West Bengal polls 2026: BJP MP Anurag Thakur says, "In any state of India, you are free to eat what you like, wear what you like, and speak as you wish. There are no such restrictions, especially not in BJP-ruled states. Some people (referring to TMC), who have no achievements to show from their 15 years in government, are trying to spread fear and confusion... But people will not forgive their 15 years of poor governance."

Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Wednesday said despite the TMC's "signature efforts" to create an "atmosphere of fear and tension", people turned out in large numbers to vote in both phases of the West Bengal Assembly elections, aided by the presence of central security forces. — PTI

West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal on Wednesday said repolling is likely to be announced in booths where EVMs would be found tampered with.

The CEO said that a repoll will be ordered only after the authorities get reports from the district election officer or election observers on allegations of tampering with EVMs using tapes or blot of ink.

Agarwal's comment came following allegations by the BJP that the party's symbols on EVMs were covered with tapes or ink in certain booths during the second and final phase of polling, which is underway.

BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya shared a video on X, claiming that white tape had been placed on the party's symbol in booth numbers 144 and 189 in the Falta assembly seat, and demanded a re-poll. — PTI

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari in Chakraberia area on polling day. Adhikari is contesting the election from the Bhabanipur constituency against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Express photos by Partha Paul

Kolkata Mayor and TMC candidate Firhad Hakim says, "Had such heavy CRPF force been deployed in Pahalgam, so many of our people would not have died. Why are so many personnel deployed here? This area has largely been peaceful... This is BJP's style to threaten voters..."

Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee casts his vote in Kolkata. He said, "The whole process is being followed properly, and the arrangements are very good. I am doubly happy this year because my son is a first-time voter. I am happy and proud that he exercised his rights."

On casting his vote, BJP candidate from Shibpur assembly constituency, Rudranil Ghosh says, "... There was a time when I used to vote for other candidates. Now, all these people here are not my voters but my neighbours. I belong to this constituency. Voting for myself has been the most exciting experience of my life. People of Shibpur have shown so much faith in me that I have nothing but gratitude towards them..." — PTI

BJP candidate from Entally constituency, Priyanka Tibrewal says, “…In a small room where polling was taking place, 6 TMC (polling) agents, 1 BJP agent, 1 CPM agent, 1 Congress agent, and 1 independent agent were present. Along with them, there were 5 polling staff members, making the room very crowded. They were practically sitting on the EVM, and there was no privacy for voters. I complained to the central forces and the presiding officer, after which the agents were asked to step out of the room. However, TMC agents did not leave and tried to assault me…” — PTI

The second phase of voting in West Bengal was progressing peacefully amid elaborate security arrangements, the state's Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal said on Wednesday, exuding confidence that the turnout might surpass the first phase figures.

More than 60 per cent of the 3.21 crore electors voted till 1 pm in the second phase of polling in West Bengal amid sporadic violence and attacks on candidates.

Agarwal said extensive security deployment and close monitoring were ensuring a smooth voting process across the state.

"In the first phase, West Bengal showed the country that a 93 per cent voter turnout is possible, and that elections can be free and fair. In this phase as well, we aim to match or even exceed that benchmark," Agarwal said. — PTI

Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray on Wednesday said West Bengal's pride is at odds with the might of the greed to win an election. He added, "Bengal's citizens have been harassed, subject to disenfranchisement in millions, in a country that was once proudly a democracy."

Read his full post here:

When asked if 2021 Nandigram history will be repeated in Bhabanipur, BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari says, “I will tell you the margin after 6 PM (when voting ends)." — PTI