• Source:JND
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West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday announced that the assembly elections in West Bengal will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29. This marks a shift from the eight-phase polling conducted during the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections.

The counting of votes for the West Bengal Assembly Elections will take place on May 4, along with that of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu.

ALSO READ: West Bengal Assembly Election 2026 Date: Polling In Two Phases On April 23, 29; Counting On May 4

Bengal To Vote In 2 Phases Instead Of 8: Here's Why

When asked why the number of phases in West Bengal has been reduced from eight to just two, the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, said that the Election Commission of India (ECI) held detailed deliberations and concluded that the number of phases should be reduced to an extent that would be convenient for everyone.

"With regards to the West Bengal elections to be held in two phases instead of eight phases earlier, the Commission has held detailed deliberations, and in its considered opinion, it was found necessary to reduce the number of phases and bring it down to an extent where it is convenient for everybody," Kumar said.

The poll panel also announced the schedule for assembly elections for the four poll-bound states, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry, a Union territory, on Sunday.

While assembly elections in West Bengal will be held in two phases, the polls in other states and Puducherry will be conducted in a single phase.

ALSO READ: Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2026 Date: Voting To Be Held In Single Phase On April 23, Counting On May 4; Check Full Schedule

West Bengal Assembly Election 2026: Check Full Schedule

Phase I

- Date of Issue of Gazette Notification: March 30 (Monday)

- Last Date for making Nominations: April 06 (Monday)

- Date for the scrutiny of Nominations: April 7 (Tuesday)

- Last date for the withdrawal of candidatures: April 9 (Thursday)

- Date of Polling: April 23 (Thursday)

Phase II

- Date of Issue of Gazette Notification: April 2 (Thursday)

- Last Date for making Nominations: April 9 (Thursday)

- Last date for the withdrawal of candidatures: April 10 (Friday)

- Date of Polling: April 29 (Wednesday)

- Counting and results

- Date of Counting: May 4 (Monday)

- Date before which the election shall be completed: May 6 (Wednesday)

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021

In the 2021 West Bengal Assembly election, Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee secured 215 seats, defeating its nearest rival, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which emerged as the official opposition with 77 constituencies.

Addressing concerns over poll-related violence, CEC Gyanesh Kumar said that necessary action would be taken against police officers found to be involved in earlier polls.

"With regards to the police officers who were involved in the violence in earlier elections, the list has been sought, as is known to the media during our visit to West Bengal, and necessary action as per law shall be taken...," Kumar said.


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