West Bengal Exit Poll 2026 Live Updates: With the polling in the second and final phase of the Assembly elections concluding, all eyes are now on the exit poll projections, which will be released after 6:30 pm in line with Election Commission guidelines on Wednesday. The state recorded a voter turnout of 18.39 per cent till 9 am on Wednesday, as polling got underway for the remaining 142 constituencies.
Voter Turnout in Key Districts
Among districts, Purba Bardhaman reported the highest turnout at 20.86 per cent, followed by Hooghly at 20.16 per cent. Turnout stood at 18.50 per cent in Nadia and 17.81 per cent in North 24 Parganas. In urban centres, Kolkata North and Kolkata South recorded 17.28 per cent and 16.81 per cent turnout respectively, while Howrah saw 17.76 per cent voting.
The Main Contest: TMC vs BJP
The contest in the 2026 elections is primarily between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP. Earlier in the day, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari inspected polling booths in Bhabanipur, while TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee cast his vote at the Mitra Institution polling station in the same constituency. The second phase is being seen as a key test for the TMC, with voting taking place across its strongholds in south Bengal and Kolkata.
Phase 2 Details
This phase covers 142 of the state’s 294 seats, with an electorate of around 3.21 crore, including 1,64,35,627 men, 1,57,37,418 women and 792 third-gender voters. Polling is being conducted across 41,001 stations, all under webcasting coverage.
What Are Exit Polls?
Exit polls are surveys conducted immediately after voters exit polling booths, where they are asked which party or candidate they just voted for. Unlike opinion polls, which attempt to predict voter behaviour before elections are held, exit polls aim to capture actual voting behaviour in real time. However, even exit polls are still based on samples of voters rather than a complete count, which means they provide an estimate rather than an exact result. This makes them useful for trend-spotting but not definitive outcomes.
Mamata Banerjee Visits Bhabanipur Booths
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday visited multiple polling booths in her Bhabanipur constituency, where voting was underway, and alleged that central forces and election observers were acting at the behest of the BJP. Bhabanipur, considered her political bastion, witnessed a high-profile contest as Banerjee faced Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari in what was seen as a symbolic rematch of Nandigram, where he had defeated her in the 2021 Assembly elections. Departing from her usual routine of voting later in the day, the TMC supremo stepped out of her Kalighat residence before 8 am and visited several polling stations, including those in the Chetla area of south Kolkata.
Violence Reported in Early Hours
Incidents of violence and vandalism were reported from parts of West Bengal during the early hours of polling in the second phase of the Assembly elections on Wednesday, police said. The incidents were reported from multiple locations, including Chapra, Shantipur, Nimtala and Bhangar, officials added. A BJP polling agent was allegedly assaulted by “miscreants linked to the ruling TMC” at booth number 53 in Chapra in Nadia district, party leaders said. A senior police officer confirmed that the individual, identified as Mosharef Mir, was admitted to a local hospital. BJP candidate Saikat Sarkar said the incident took place after the mock poll began. “TMC supporters obstructed the BJP agent and hit him on the head, causing injury,” Sarkar said. A complaint has been lodged with the local police station, while the TMC denied the allegations.
18.39% Turnout in First Two Hours
Around 18.39 per cent of the 3.21 crore electorate had cast their votes in the first two hours of polling across 142 constituencies in the second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, a senior Election Commission of India official said. By 9 am, Purba Bardhaman recorded the highest turnout at 20.86 per cent, followed by Hooghly at 20.16 per cent. Turnout stood at 18.5 per cent in Nadia, 17.81 per cent in North 24 Parganas, 17.28 per cent in Kolkata Uttar, 17.25 per cent in South 24 Parganas, and 16.81 per cent in Kolkata Dakshin.
3.21 Crore Voters Across 142 Seats Head to Polls
Voting was underway across 142 constituencies in the second and final phase of the West Bengal assembly elections, with extensive security arrangements in place. Polling commenced at 7.00 am, with voters queuing outside booths in Kolkata, Howrah, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Hooghly and Purba Bardhaman, regions that together form the state’s political and electoral core. A total of 3,21,73,837 electors are eligible to vote in this phase, including 1,64,35,627 men, 1,57,37,418 women and 792 third-gender voters.
Exit Poll Guidelines and Timing
With the high-stakes second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026 concluding on Wednesday, attention has now shifted to exit poll projections, which are set to be released after 6.30 pm in accordance with guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India. Phase 2 covered the remaining constituencies of the 294-member Assembly and has witnessed intense political activity across districts. As per the poll panel’s rules, exit poll results can be published only 30 minutes after voting concludes in the final phase. The projections are expected to be aired across major television news channels and digital platforms soon after the embargo is lifted.
West Bengal Exit Poll Results 2026 Live Updates: With the final phase of the West Bengal assembly elections concluding, attention has shifted to exit polls, due after 6.30 pm on April 29 as per Election Commission of India rules. High voter turnout across Bengal has heightened expectations ahead of counting on May 4. According to Election Commission guidelines, exit polls are strictly prohibited until 30 minutes after polling ends in the final phase. Bengal recorded a historic 93.2% turnout in the first phase of assembly elections, while Tamil Nadu's final provisional figure settled at 85.1% after a marginal revision, EC data showed. Voting across 142 constituencies in the second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections is underway on Wednesday, conducted under extensive security arrangements in a contest seen as crucial for both the ruling TMC and the BJP. The outcome of this phase is expected to determine whether the TMC retains its hold over the southern districts or if the BJP makes gains in the state.
