NEW DELHI, March 16: The Election Commission of India announced on March 16 that the West Bengal Assembly elections will be held in two phases — April 23 and April 29.
Officials from the poll body said the decision followed consultations in Kolkata with major parties and took into account law-and-order considerations, security deployment and administrative logistics.
Key dates and schedule
• Phase 1 — April 23: All northern districts and some southern areas will vote.
• Phase 2 — April 29: Remaining southern districts will go to polls.
The full Election Commission bench, which included Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, visited Kolkata and met party representatives before finalising the schedule.
Rare agreement between rival parties
The two-phase plan drew rare approval from both the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with both camps saying the schedule would help streamline campaigning and security arrangements.
Election Commission’s planning and security arrangements
Election officials said they reviewed deployment of central security forces, logistics for polling personnel, transportation of EVMs and other measures to maintain law and order during campaigning.
Importance of West Bengal elections
West Bengal remains politically significant; the two-phase schedule sets the stage for intense campaigning, with TMC leader Mamata Banerjee and BJP leader Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to headline campaigns for their respective parties.
Election preparations underway
The Commission has begun updating voter lists, identifying polling stations and coordinating with state authorities. Detailed guidelines on campaign rules and polling procedures will be issued ahead of the polls.
