No Bengal Elections Till SIR Done: BJP Chief on ECI's 2026 Schedule

Following the Election Commission of India's (ECI) announcement of assembly election dates for five states/UTs—West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry—West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya issued a measured response. The ECI scheduled West Bengal's 294-seat polls in two phases: April 23 and April 29, 2026, with results on May 4. "We welcome the decision of the Election Commission, and we are confident that they will conduct the elections in a fearless atmosphere," Bhattacharya stated. He added a firm caveat: "But there will be no elections in West Bengal until SIR is completed; the Supreme Court and the Election Commission should also keep this in mind." Bhattacharya urged prevention of past violence, saying, "The atmosphere seen in the last elections in West Bengal, where our workers were killed, should not happen again. We want violence-free elections." The statement underscores BJP's push for security amid political tensions ahead of the reduced-phase polls, down from in 2021.

#WATCH | Kolkata: On the announcement of dates of polls in 5 states/UTs, West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya says, "We welcome the decision of the Election Commission, and we are confident that the Election Commission will conduct the elections in a fearless atmosphere.… pic.twitter.com/9Nj2rW6kAc

— ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2026