High-octane polling marked the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 on Thursday, April 23. Despite soaring temperatures and reports of sporadic clashes, voters turned out in record numbers, with the Election Commission of India (ECI) recording an approximate voter turnout of 78.77% as of 3:00 PM.
Bumper Turnout Across 152 Constituencies
​The first phase covers 152 constituencies across 16 districts, determining the fate of 1,478 candidates. The voter participation has shown a steady upward trend since the morning, starting from 18.76% at 9 AM and surging past 62% by 1 PM, eventually reaching nearly 79% by mid-afternoon.
District-Wise Highlights (as of 3 PM):
​Dakshin Dinajpur: Leading the charts with a robust 81.49%.
​Paschim Medinipur: Following closely at 81.07%.
​Jhargram: Recorded a high of 81.04%.
​Birbhum: Maintained strong momentum at 80.22%.
​Darjeeling & Kalimpong: The hills saw steady participation at 76.54% and 74.07% respectively.
​The second and final phase of polling for the remaining 142 seats is scheduled for April 29, 2026, with the results to be declared on May 4.
