The West Bengal election 2026 dates are now out, with polling scheduled in two phases on April 23 and April 29. The West Bengal Assembly election 2026 will cover all 294 constituencies, with counting of votes set for May 4. In a major shift, the Election Commission has reduced the number of phases from eight in 2021 to just two this time.
The move is expected to simplify the voting process while still managing security and logistics across the state, which has over 7 crore eligible voters.
KEY DATES FOR WEST BENGAL ASSEMBLY ELECTION 2026
The election schedule lays out a clear timeline for candidates and voters:
- Filing of nominations begins in mid-March 2026
- Scrutiny of nominations takes place in late March
- Last date for withdrawal falls in early April
- Phase 1 polling: April 23, 2026
- Phase 2 polling: April 29, 2026
- Counting of votes: May 4, 2026
- Completion of process: Around May 6, 2026
These steps will guide the entire election process from nominations to final results.
TWO-PHASE VOTING PLAN EXPLAINED
The West Bengal election 2026 phase-wise schedule divides voting across two days:
PHASE 1 – APRIL 23
- Covers 152 constituencies
- Includes constituency numbers 1–76, 203–258, and 275–294
- Focus areas: North Bengal and several mixed districts
Districts include Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur, and parts of Birbhum, Murshidabad, Nadia, and Hooghly.
PHASE 2 – APRIL 29
- Covers 142 constituencies
- Includes constituency numbers 77–202 and 259–274
- Focus areas: Kolkata and surrounding urban belts
Districts include Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Howrah, parts of Paschim Bardhaman, Purba Bardhaman, and regions like Paschim Medinipur, Purba Medinipur, Jhargram, Bankura, and Purulia.
COUNTING DAY AND RESULTS
Counting for all 294 seats will take place on May 4, 2026. Results and trends are expected to come in throughout the day, with final outcomes likely by evening.
The Election Commission plans to complete all formalities by May 6, marking the end of the election process.
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