West Bengal records sizeable voter turnout of 39.9% at 11 am in phase 2 of polling

New Delhi [India], April 29 (HBTV): West Bengal recorded a voter turnout of 39.97 per cent until 11 am on Wednesday, as polling for 142 seats in the second phase of Assembly elections is underway.

According to the Election Commission of India, Purba Bardhaman recorded the highest turnout at 44.50 per cent, followed by Hooghly at 43.12 per cent.

Kolkata North and Kolkata South registered voter turnouts of 38.39 per cent and 36.78 per cent, respectively, while Nadia recorded 40.34 per cent.

The main contest in the 2026 elections is between the All India Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Earlier in the day, West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari inspected polling booths in the Bhabanipur constituency. Abhishek Banerjee cast his vote at the Mitra Institute polling booth in Bhabanipur.

The second phase of polling is being seen as a key test for the Trinamool Congress, as voting shifts to its traditional strongholds in South Bengal and Kolkata.

This phase covers 142 out of 294 seats in the state, with an electorate of approximately 3.21 crore, including 1,64,35,627 men, 1,57,37,418 women, and 792 transgender voters.

A total of 1,448 candidates, including 220 women, are contesting across 41,001 polling stations, with over 8,000 booths managed entirely by women.

Several key urban constituencies, including Bhabanipur and Tollyganj, are witnessing high-profile contests. In the 2021 elections, the Trinamool Congress secured 123 of these 142 seats.

For the BJP, this phase is crucial to expand its presence among urban voters and sections such as the Matua community, while for the Trinamool Congress, it is vital to retain dominance and secure a fourth consecutive term for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The counting of votes will take place on May 4.

(ANI)