Voter Turnout At 09:00 AM: West Bengal At 18.39% In Phase 2

The second phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 recorded a voter turnout of 18.39 per cent by 9 AM on Wednesday, as polling continued across 142 constituencies.

Voting began at 7 AM in multiple districts, including Kolkata, with a large number of people arriving early at polling booths. Scattered reports of tension, however, emerged from a few locations.

In Bhabanipur, a key constituency where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting against BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, security personnel warned Kartik Banerjee for gathering near a police station with more individuals than allowed. Authorities reiterated restrictions on crowding near polling areas.

Nearby in Rashbehari, disagreements were reported after the Congress alleged that its booth agents were denied entry into a polling station by workers of the ruling party. The situation led to brief unrest in the area.

Separately, tension had already been building in Singur in Hooghly district since the previous night, where Trinamool leader Bencharam Manna staged a protest, claiming excesses by security forces.

In Nadia district’s Santipur constituency, polling at one booth remained briefly delayed due to a technical fault in an Electronic Voting Machine, though officials addressed the issue soon after.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to participate actively in the democratic process through a message posted on X, encouraging higher turnout, particularly among women and young voters.

Polling is taking place under heavy security arrangements, with thousands of personnel from central and state forces deployed across districts, including North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Howrah, Nadia and East Burdwan.

Mock drills took place at all polling stations before voting began to ensure smooth operations.

Also Read: Amit Shah Urges High Turnout As Bengal Voting Sees Early Friction