Top News

• First phase of polling in West Bengal
• Tough fight between BJP leaders with Mamata Banerjee
• The reputation of many leaders in the Trinamul Congress and the BJP was at stake

West Bengal Elections 2026: Kolkata : Assembly elections are going on in West Bengal and the first phase of voting is going to be held today. To win power in West Bengal, considered the stronghold of Trinamul Congress and Mamata Banerjee, BJP (BJP Politics) trying hard. The first phase of polling is taking place in West Bengal as the political arena is dominated by political allegations. In this, the reputation of Trinamool Congress and BJP veteran leaders is at stake.

Voting for 152 seats is going on today (23rd) in the first phase of West Bengal Assembly elections. Voting is taking place in eight districts of North Bengal, three districts of South Bengal and five districts of Jangalmahal region, where major political parties are contesting. This first phase is also considered crucial for the political future of the state, in which approximately 3.6 crore voters will decide the fate of 1,478 candidates.

This phase includes the districts of Purulia, Bankura, Jhadgram, West Medinipur, East Medinipur and South 24 Parganas. In this phase, polling will also be held in some constituencies in Kolkata and Howrah. A tough fight is expected in Nandigram, Kharagpur, Purulia, Bankura and Jadagram seats, where several prominent political stalwarts from BJP, TMC and Congress are contesting the elections.

Suvendu’s fate will be determined in Nandigram

The Nandigram seat is once again in the news, where TMC’s holy tax is pitted against senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. Adhikari had defeated Mamata Banerjee from the same seat in 2021, making the seat a battle of political prestige.

Battle for prestige in Asansol

In Asansol South constituency, BJP’s Agnimitra Paul is trying to repeat his 2021 victory. TMC’s Tapas Banerjee is putting up a tough challenge. Banerjee previously held the seat for a decade, making the race extremely tight.

Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary Vs Subhrat Maitra

In Bahrampur constituency, the fight is between senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary and BJP’s Subhrat Maitra. Chaudhary has been an MP for five terms and was the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. After losing the 2024 elections, he is now contesting the assembly elections.

Tough fight in Kharagpur Sadar too

There is a close contest in Kharagpur Sadar Constituency. There is a fight between senior BJP leader and former state president Dilip Ghosh and TMC’s Pradeep Sarkar. Dilip Ghosh had won the seat in 2016 and is now trying to win it back, while Pradeep Sarkar won the 2019 by-election to give the TMC victory.