West Bengal recorded a voter turnout of 62.18 per cent till 1 pm on Thursday, according to the Election Commission of India, as polling for the crucial first phase of the 2026 Assembly elections progressed across the state.
The high-voltage contest, which will determine the political future of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her government, has witnessed brisk participation from voters despite reports of technical disruptions at select polling booths.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, contesting from the Berhampore Assembly constituency, raised concerns over repeated Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) malfunctions at a polling station. He urged election authorities to take immediate corrective action.
“The EVM at booth 141 has been malfunctioning. As a result, common voters standing under the sun are being forced to return home. The situation requires urgent intervention. The machine has already been replaced four times, and even the replacement is not functioning,” Chowdhury told reporters, highlighting the inconvenience faced by voters and polling officials alike.
The first phase of polling covers 152 Assembly constituencies, including all 54 seats in north Bengal’s eight districts, along with several constituencies in Murshidabad, Nadia, Birbhum, and Hooghly. The election is being conducted in two phases, with today’s voting seen as particularly significant for shaping the overall electoral narrative.
The ruling All India Trinamool Congress, led by Banerjee, is aiming for a fourth consecutive term in office. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party is aggressively pushing to establish its first government in the state after an intensive campaign.
Political observers view this phase as a critical opportunity for the BJP, especially in north Bengal, where it had performed strongly in the 2021 elections, winning 59 of the 152 seats going to polls in this round. The party is hoping to leverage that momentum to challenge the TMC’s dominance, particularly as Banerjee continues to enjoy strong support in south Bengal.
Despite isolated technical hiccups, polling has largely remained peaceful, with authorities monitoring the situation closely to ensure a smooth and fair electoral process. The final turnout figures are expected to rise further as voting continues through the day.
Leave Your Comment