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As West Bengal voted in a crucial second phase of Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday credited the large voter turnout to a renewed atmosphere of “fearless and free” polling, asserting that long queues outside booths reflect a strengthening democracy after decades.
Speaking at a public event in Hardoi, the Prime Minister thanked voters across the state for turning out in large numbers, calling the polling day a “festival of democracy” unfolding with visible enthusiasm. He pointed to widespread images of voters lining up since morning as evidence of heightened public participation.
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PM Modi said the scale of turnout in Phase 2 mirrored the first phase, underlining a significant shift in the electoral environment. He asserted voters were exercising their franchise without fear, which had not been the norm in previous elections in the state.
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Turnout crosses 60% by afternoon
Polling for 142 of West Bengal’s 294 Assembly seats saw brisk participation through the day. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), voter turnout reached 61.11 per cent by 1 pm. Hooghly district led with over 64 per cent polling, followed by strong participation in Howrah, Kolkata North, and Nadia.
Earlier in the day, turnout stood at nearly 40 per cent by 11 am, indicating steady momentum as voting progressed across urban and semi-urban constituencies.
High-stakes battle in TMC strongholds
The second phase is widely viewed as a critical test for the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), with voting taking place across its traditional strongholds in South Bengal and Kolkata. The main contest remains between the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is seeking to expand its footprint in the state.
Key urban constituencies, including Bhabanipur and Tollyganj, have drawn significant attention, with high-profile candidates and intense campaigning turning them into marquee contests.
PM Modi bets on ‘hat-Trick’ of wins
Projecting confidence beyond Bengal, PM Modi said recent victories by the BJP-led NDA in Bihar and local body polls in Gujarat have set the stage for another strong showing. He expressed optimism that the party would secure a “historic hat-trick” across the states currently in the election cycle.
He added that the results, scheduled for May 4, would provide fresh momentum to the Centre’s development agenda.
#WATCH | Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh: PM Narendra Modi says, “I am confident that in the elections in these five states, the BJP is going to complete a historic hat-trick of victories. The results of May 4 will strengthen the resolve for a developed India. They will infuse new energy… pic.twitter.com/5voSQXWECw
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2026
Massive electoral exercise
The second phase covers an electorate of over 3.21 crore voters, with more than 1,400 candidates contesting across 41,000 polling stations. Notably, over 8,000 booths are being managed entirely by women officials, marking a significant logistical effort.
With more than half the seats going to polls in this phase, the outcome is expected to play a decisive role in shaping the overall result of the West Bengal Assembly elections.
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