The first chapter of 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections is over, and the numbers are simply mind-blowing. The people of Bengal have sent a clear message in the face of a heated political climate and controversial voter list revisions: they are showing up.
The political rhetoric has hit a fever pitch, with the state taking a breather before the final phase on April 29. All you need to know about the historic Phase 1 and what lies ahead.
Record-breaking ‘festival of democracy’ Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said the first phase of polling in 152 constituencies saw a massive turnout of 92.35% of voters. This is the highest level of participation in these areas since at least 2011 and is among the highest recorded in India since independence, officials said.
More than 33.2 million citizens voted despite the contentious deletion of close to 10% of names from the electoral rolls, higher than those in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Highest turnout: Murarai, a massive 96.95%.
Lowest Turnout: Mekhliganj at 82.12% (still a remarkable number by national standards).
Amit Shah’s “Son of the Soil” promise
Addressing a high-octane rally in Hingalganj and Kolkata on Saturday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated BJP’s mission to dislodge the Trinamool Congress (TMC) after 15 years.
Shah made two big announcements:
1. Cattle Smuggling:
A “zero-tolerance” policy was promised, and action was promised against cross-border smuggling networks.
The Leadership Face: Shah promised that the Chief Minister will be a “Bengal-born, Bengali-speaking” leader, should the BJP form the government, directly hitting back at the “outsider” narrative often used by the Opposition.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, meanwhile, said the large turnout was an indication of the end of what he called the TMC’s “Maha Jungle Raj” and forecast a decisive change in the state’s political landscape.
2. The Controversy: The “Left Out” Voters
The historic turnout was marred by the category of “logical discrepancy” used during the revision of electoral rolls that cast a shadow on the election.
Between 2011 and 2013, judicial tribunals cleared only 139 of 1.4 million people who applied to have their names reinstated in the pre-Phase 1 period. This continues to be a huge issue for Mamata Banerjee’s TMC which has been embroiled in a political storm over these deletions.
What’s Next?
Now attention turns to the second and final day of voting on April 29. The TMC and the BJP have both claimed victory, but the remaining seats will witness intense campaigning in the days to come.
