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Marking a departure from the earlier inclination of multiple-phase elections, the Election Commission of India connected Sunday (March 15, 2026) announced that elections to the West Bengal Assembly volition beryllium held successful 2 phases.
In the archetypal signifier connected April 23, 152 Assembly constituencies volition spell to polls, and the remaining 142 constituencies volition ballot connected April 29.
Assembly elections 2026 highlights
This is simply a crisp opposition to the eight-phase Assembly predetermination successful 2021 amidst the raging COVID-19 pandemic. Assembly elections successful 2016 and successful 2011 were held successful six phases. The large governmental parties, including the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), person welcomed the two-phase polls.
“How galore phases volition it instrumentality for the radical of Bengal to decisively cull Bangla-Birodhi @BJP4India erstwhile and for all? Answer – Jotoi Koro Hamla, #AbarJitbeBangla (the party’s slogan for the polls) #BoycottBJP,” the Trinamool posted connected societal media aft the announcement of Assembly elections.
President of West Bengal portion of BJP, Samik Bhattacharya, appreciated the canvass body’s decision. “The radical of West Bengal are acceptable to bring down the existent regime,” helium said.
Mr. Bhattacharya reiterated his party’s committedness of implementing the Seventh Pay Commission for the authorities employees and ₹3,000 per period payout for women nether Annapurna Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme.
While the elections person been announced, the destiny of 60 lakh electors inactive hangs successful balance. Though determination was nary connection from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who had precocious observed a five-day sit-in successful protestation of the electors being enactment nether judicial adjudication, State caput of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Mohammad Salim said his enactment volition combat for the rights of the electors nether adjudication earlier courts.
“The Constitution guarantees rights to citizens of this state to contention elections. With implicit 60 lakh radical inactive nether the Commission’s doubtful elector list, they volition suffer the accidental to taxable candidature, adjacent if they look successful the supplementary database published later. The information signifier mandates them to authorities their elector details successful presumption of their portion and serial fig successful electoral rolls, which they cannot,” Mr. Salim said.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, portion announcing the elections, said that a supplementary database of electors nether adjudication volition beryllium published arsenic per instructions of the Supreme Court.
The Congress besides welcomed the two-phase polls. However, elder person Pradip Bhattacharya expressed interest implicit elector intimidation.
With the dates of elections being announced, the candidates of large governmental parties are apt to beryllium announced successful the adjacent fewer days. Around 480 companies of Central forces person already been deployed successful the State for confidence-building measures.
EC seeks explanation
The canvass sheet sought a study from Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, and the DEO (Kolkata North) implicit the unit successful the city’s Girish Park country connected Saturday (March 14).
Allegations had surfaced that the residence of West Bengal Minister Shashi Panja was attacked by BJP supporters earlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally. The Commission asked the Police Commissioner wherefore Central forces were not seen successful the country adjacent arsenic unit continued for astir an hour.
