PM Modi Appeals For High Voter Turnout As Bengal Enters Final Poll Phase

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to cast their votes in large numbers as the second and concluding phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 began.

Taking to X, PM Modi posted, “Today is Phase-2 of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026. Urging all those voting today to do so in record numbers and make our democracy more vibrant as well as participative. It is important that the women and youth of West Bengal, in particular, turnout in large numbers and exercise their franchise.”

Polling is currently underway across 142 constituencies spanning seven districts.

A closely watched contest is taking place in Bhabanipur, where Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress faces a challenge from BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari. The constituency has remained under Trinamool control since 2011.

Early visuals showed voters lining up at polling stations. This included a specially designated pink booth at Hiralal Majumdar College in the Kamarhati constituency.

Data from the Election Commission of India indicates that over 3.21 crore voters are eligible to vote in this phase. This accounts for nearly two-thirds of the population in these constituencies.

The electorate includes more than 1.64 crore men, over 1.57 crore women, and 792 voters from the third gender category.

Officials confirmed that all registered voters possess Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPICs).

The voter base also includes 3,243 individuals aged 100 or above and nearly 1.97 lakh aged over 85. There are 146 overseas voters and close to 40,000 service voters.

A total of 1,448 candidates are contesting in this phase, including 1,228 men and 220 women. There is no representation from the third gender among candidates.

Of the seats going to polls, 107 are general constituencies, while 34 are reserved for the Scheduled Castes and one for the Scheduled Tribes.

The counting of votes will take place on May 4.

Also Read: PM Modi To Visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple Today Before Ganga Expressway Launch