West Bengal Election Dates 2026: Voting on April 23, 29; results on May 4

Mamata Banerjee

Assembly elections in West Bengal will be held on  April 23 and April 29 in  two phases , the Election Commission of India announced on Sunday, with counting set to take place May 4.

The announcement of the poll schedule has set the stage for a high-stakes political contest in one of India’s most crucial states, with parties now preparing to intensify their campaigns across the state.

The election is expected to be a direct fight between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress and the BJP.

The announcement came amid Banerjee’s blistering attack on the BJP and the Election Commission (EC) for conducting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state. She assured the people of the state that not a single genuine voter’s name would be deleted.

The exercise triggered allegations of voter exclusion and counter claims about infiltration and electoral integrity.

According to the Election Commission data, the voter count now stands at 6.44 crore. More than 60 lakh names have been placed “under adjudication”, while 1.9 lakh new voters have been added.

Mamata’s turf

The state has been governed by the Trinamool Congress government since 2011. In the 2021 Assembly elections, the Trinamool won 213 seats, while BJP emerged as the principal Opposition with 77 seats.

In the run-up to the election, the BJP has repeatedly accused the Mamata government of weakening democratic institutions, allowing political violence, and failing to uphold the rule of law in the state.

The BJP also claimed that illegal infiltration from Bangladesh is altering the state’s demographics and posing security concerns. Disputes have also emerged over administrative issues, including alleged protocol lapses during high-level visits and accusations that central agencies are being used to influence elections.

It has been alleged that West Bengal, despite having a female Chief Minister, ranks high in crimes against women, including acid attacks and trafficking.

BJP leaders have frequently raised issues such as the alleged sexual abuse case in Sandeshkhali and the incident at RG Kar Hospital while criticising the state government.

In response, the Trinamool Congress highlighted crimes against women in BJP-ruled states, such as Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, calling them "real rape capitals".

However, the BJP does not have a “face” against the Bengal CM in the state. The state BJP hopes to replicate the Odisha and Delhi win where it relied on the PM Modi factor.

Meanwhile, there is little expectation of a Congress revival. It also remains to be seen whether the Left parties can regain relevance and play a decisive role in a fragmented vote space.