Record turnout in West Bengal poll fuels rival claims, data tempers conclusions
The first phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections on April 23, 2026, saw a record-breaking voter turnout of 92.88%, exceeding previous highs in 2011 and 2006. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee all claimed victory for their respective parties. Retired bureaucrat and former Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal Jawhar Sircar expressed uncertainty about the impact of the high turnout, attributing it to both voter anger over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and a potential shift in voting patterns among migrant workers. The second phase of the elections is scheduled for April 29th.
28 APR 2026
— The Hindu
Over 3.21 crore voters in West Bengal will cast ballots in the second and final phase of the Assembly elections.
29 APR 2026
— The Hindu
West Bengal's second and final phase of elections concluded with record voter turnout and a heightened security presence, but faced challenges with voter eligibility and roll revisions.
30 APR 2026
— The Hindu
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited an EVM strong room, alleging potential tampering and demanding transparency in the counting process.
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