KOLKATA, Apr 23: Voting is underway in 152 constituencies in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections on Thursday, marking the beginning of a high-stakes electoral battle conducted under unprecedented security arrangements.
Polling began at 7 am across districts ranging from Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri in the north to Murshidabad, Nadia, Birbhum, and Hooghly in the south. Voters were seen queuing up outside booths as the process got underway, officials said.
The opening phase covers more than half of the state’s 294 assembly seats and is being seen as crucial for both the BJP, which aims for an early breakthrough, and the ruling Trinamool Congress, which is seeking a fourth consecutive term.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters, especially youth and women, to participate in large numbers, calling it a “festival of democracy” in a post on X. West Bengal Governor RN Ravi also appealed for maximum participation, stressing that “every vote is sacred” and can shape the state’s future.
According to the Election Commission, over 3.60 crore electors are eligible to vote in this phase, including around 1.75 crore women and 465 third-gender voters. A massive deployment of 2,450 companies of central paramilitary forces—around 2.5 lakh personnel—has been made, with over 8,000 polling stations identified as highly sensitive.
More than 2,193 quick response teams, surveillance units, and flying squads have also been deployed to ensure peaceful polling. Several districts, including Malda, Murshidabad, Uttar Dinajpur, Cooch Behar, Birbhum, and Purba Bardhaman, are under special surveillance.
The first phase is politically significant as it includes all 54 seats of north Bengal, a region that played a key role in the BJP’s 2019 Lok Sabha performance and its 2021 Assembly showing. Of the 152 seats in this phase, the BJP had won 59 and the TMC 93 in 2021.
For the BJP, retaining its influence in north Bengal is critical, while the TMC aims to limit losses to maintain momentum. The election has also been influenced by the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which led to the removal of around 91 lakh names, triggering political controversy between the BJP and the TMC.
Several prominent candidates are contesting in this phase, including Suvendu Adhikari (BJP, Nandigram), Nisith Pramanik (BJP, Mathabhanga), Udayan Guha (TMC, Dinhata), Goutam Deb (TMC, Siliguri), and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Congress, Baharampur).
The second phase of polling is scheduled for April 29, while counting of votes will be held on May 4. (Agencies)
