West Bengal Phase 2 Voting Sees Steady Start with 18.39% Turnout by 9 AM

Polling for the second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 witnessed a steady start, with 18.39% voter turnout recorded in the first two hours, according to a senior official of the Election Commission of India. Voting began at 7 AM across 142 constituencies, covering key districts that form the political core of the state. District-Wise Turnout Highlights Among the districts, Purba Bardhaman recorded the highest turnout at 20.86%, followed closely by Hooghly at 20.16%. Other districts reported: Nadia: 18.5% North 24 Parganas: 17.81% Kolkata Uttar: 17.28% South 24 Parganas: 17.25% Kolkata Dakshin: 16.81% Peaceful Polling with Tight Security Officials confirmed that polling is largely peaceful, with only minor incidents reported in isolated areas. Authorities have sought detailed reports to ensure transparency and swift action where needed. The election is being conducted under unprecedented security arrangements, with extensive deployment of forces to maintain law and order. Massive Electorate and Infrastructure A total of 3,21,73,837 voters are eligible to vote in this phase, including: 1,64,35,627 men 1,57,37,418 women 792 third-gender voters Polling is taking place across 41,001 polling stations, all equipped with webcasting facilities to ensure monitoring and transparency.