West Bengal is voting today in the second and final phase of its 2026 Assembly elections, with over 2,300 companies of Central Armed Police Forces deployed for peaceful polling. The BJP aims to improve on its 2021 performance of 77 seats, amid allegations against TMC. Results are due on May 4.
The Election Commission has deployed 2,343 companies of Central Armed Police Forces across West Bengal, including 273 in Kolkata, with drone surveillance and over 6,000 Quick Response Teams. In the last 36 hours, 1,543 people were arrested as troublemakers, with the highest numbers in Purba Bardhaman (479), North 24 Parganas (319), and South 24 Parganas (246). Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Nand said, “The QRT teams are in. Motorcycle patrolling, 273 companies of CAPF are there in Kolkata.”
The EC has directed the National Investigation Agency to prevent bomb use by miscreants after crude bombs were recovered in Bhangar. The BJP is banking on anti-incumbency over jobs and industry, organisational expansion, and portraying Mamata Banerjee as appeasing Muslims via anti-'ghuspaithiya' rhetoric. A homemaker remarked, “What use is Rs 1,500 per month? My daughter needs a job which brings her at least Rs 20,000.”
Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari alleged a TMC councillor procured over 700 artificial fingers for bogus voting in Bhabanipur, a claim dismissed by TMC. TMC accused police observer Ajay Pal Sharma of intimidation in Falta, Diamond Harbour. The EC transferred a Joint BDO in Falta and removed two ADMs from poll duties.
This final phase covers 142 seats in south Bengal, where BJP challenges TMC's stronghold. BJP improved from 3 seats in 2016 to 77 in 2021 and expects further gains. Mamata pitches it as protecting Bengali identity against BJP's Hindu nationalism, with results on May 4 having wider implications.
