14 April,2026 02:53 PM IST | Kolkata | mid-day online correspondent
Voting will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with results scheduled to be declared on May 4. File Pic
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that a total of 2,926 candidates will contest the upcoming West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026.
Voting will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with results scheduled to be declared on May 4.
According to the official statement, the ECI said that in the Phase 1, 1,478 candidates across 152 constituencies are in fray whereas in Phase 2, 1,448 candidates across 142 constituencies were contesting, the news agency reported.
The deadline for filing nominations for Phase 2 was April 9 and the scrutiny was completed on April 10.
The candidates were allowed to withdraw until April 13, officials said.
According to the ANI, the ECI has instructed Returning Officers to publish the final list of candidates in the official gazette and securely store all election-related documents.
To assist voters, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will display coloured photographs of candidates along with their names, serial numbers and party symbols, making identification easier at polling stations.
Additionally, ballot papers for EVMs will include coloured photographs of candidates along with key details like serial number and symbol to make it easier for voters to identify them, reported the ANI.
The elections are expected to see an intense contest between the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The TMC, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is seeking a fourth consecutive term. Meanwhile, the BJP is aiming to form the government after improving its performance in the previous election.
Ahead of the polls, political rhetoric has sharpened. Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticised the TMC government over issues such as infiltration and law and order, as per the ANI.
He also warned alleged TMC supporters against engaging in violence during voting and said that a BJP government would take steps to complete border fencing with Bangladesh.
Shah further accused the state leadership of attempting to create fear among communities, while raising concerns over past incidents of unrest in districts such as Murshidabad.
(with ANI inputs)
