Record 92.6% turnout in West Bengal second phase poll; total state participation highest since independence
A record turnout of 92.65% was in the second and final phase of voting for the West Bengal Assembly elections on Wednesday (April 29, 2026), amid isolated incidents of rioting and violence. This takes the total voter turnout in the two phases of polling in the state to nearly 93%, the highest voter turnout in any West Bengal Assembly election since independence, according to the state’s Chief Electoral Officer.
In the second phase, polling was held in 142 assembly seats spread across seven districts in South Bengal. The highest voting rate was recorded in Purba Bardhaman rural areas (93.39%), followed by Hooghly (91.41%), South 24 Parganas (91.45%), North 24 Parganas (91.39%) and Nadia (91.35%) districts.
The lowest voter turnout was in the Kolkata South administrative district, where 87.25% of voters exercised their right to vote. Adjacent Kolkata North constituency recorded 88.91% voter turnout, while Howrah saw a voter turnout of 90.93%. Voter turnout is expected to increase as final numbers are yet to be released by the Electoral Commission at the time of publication.
This is in line with the record turnout in the first phase, when 93.19% voters cast their votes in 152 seats on April 23. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said, “Highest polling percentage in West Bengal in both Phase I and II since independence – Chunav ka Parv, Paschim Bengal .
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