By 9 am, the voter turnout was approximately 18.39% across 142 constituencies out of the total 294 seats. Sub-Divisional Police Officer Dipanjan Bhattacharjee stated, “Everything is going on peacefully in Tehatta. Security arrangements are very tight. Officers are there on the ground, so it is quite peaceful.”

Polling continues amid stringent security measures in the ongoing elections, which involve a total electorate of about 32.1 million, including 16,435,627 men, 15,737,418 women, and 792 transgender voters. There are 1,448 candidates contesting, with 220 women, across 41,001 polling stations, over 8,000 of which are managed entirely by women.

Purba Bardhaman recorded the highest turnout at 20.86%, followed by Hooghly at 20.16%, Nadia at 18.50%, North 24 Parganas at 17.81%, Kolkata North at 17.28%, Kolkata South at 16.81%, and Howrah at 17.76%.

The principal contest in the 2026 elections is between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP. The second phase is regarded as a crucial test for the Trinamool Congress as voting is taking place in the party’s traditional strongholds in South Bengal and Kolkata.

Attention is focused on five notable urban seats, including Bhabanipur and Tollyganj, the latter known as the hub of the Bengali film industry, featuring a high-profile contest involving prominent personalities.