Altogether 1,468 people, who have been added to the West Bengal electoral rolls following the SIR-linked tribunal orders, will be able to exercise their franchise in the second and final phase of the assembly polls on April 29, an Election Commission official said on Tuesday, April 28.
Campaigning ended for the second phase on Monday, with political parties giving one last strong push before voters exercise their franchise.
Key Developments: April 28, 2026
| Development | Details |
|---|---|
| Voters Added | 1,468 electors cleared by tribunals; names in supplementary roll |
| Voting Date | April 29, 2026 (second and final phase) |
| Constituencies | 142 seats across 7 districts |
| Voters | 3.21 crore |
| Candidates | 1,448 |
| Central Forces | Over 2,400 companies deployed |
The Second Phase: A Battle for South Bengal
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Phase 2 Districts | Kolkata, Howrah, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman |
| TMC’s 2021 Performance | Won 123 of these 142 seats |
| BJP’s 2021 Performance | Won just 18 seats |
| Stakes | Can BJP breach TMC’s south Bengal fortress? |
The second phase shifts the battle decisively to the TMC’s home turf. Despite the BJP’s aggressive push five years ago, Mamata Banerjee’s party swept south Bengal and retained control of the state with ease.
Leaders’ Statements
| Leader | Statement |
|---|---|
| PM Narendra Modi | “I aim to transform every challenge in West Bengal into an opportunity. The next Chief Minister will be a BJP candidate.” |
| BJP chief Nitin Nabin | “The party is poised to form the government. The ruling dispensation led by Mamata Banerjee is on its way out.” |
| Chirag Paswan | “The people of West Bengal will vote to get rid of Mamata Banerjee’s rule, which has been dictatorial, violent and corrupt.” |
| TMC | Accused BJP of wanting to “dismantle” West Bengal and “homogenise identities” after BJP shared a “Bengal Good Bye” graphic. |
Voter Information
According to the Election Commission, voters whose names appear in the supplementary roll can check details by entering their EPIC number on its website.
“Electors whose appeals were disposed of by the appellate tribunals till April 27 have been included in a supplementary roll, and they will be able to vote in the second phase,” the EC official told PTI.
Security and Legal Developments
- Border Restrictions: Movement on Bangladesh border routes (including Petrapole land port) restricted from April 26 until polling completes.
- Calcutta High Court: Said it will not pass any order against any officer on election duty till April 29.
- Petition Filed: TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee claimed EC prepared a fresh list of around 350 people for action, allegedly violating a court order.
Other Election News
- Puducherry: Recorded highest turnout among third gender electors at 91.81% (139 electors).
- Tamil Nadu: 7,728 third gender electors, 60.49% turnout (April 23).
- Kerala: Wayanad gearing up for vote counting on May 4.
What’s Next
Votes will be counted on May 4, 2026, across all five states that went to polls.
