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Political heavyweights made their final appeals to voters for the election on April 29, as voters in the remaining 142 assembly seats look forward to casting their ballot
The high-octane poll campaign, which saw an intense rivalry between the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP, often felt like a relentless back-and-forth on issues from corruption to infiltration, and the future development of West Bengal. (Image: PTI/File)
The last day of campaigning for the second phase of the West Bengal assembly elections ended on Monday, with a letter to the people of the state from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s warning against the BJP’s “divisive” politics.
The high-octane election campaign, which witnessed an intense rivalry between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition BJP, often felt like a relentless back-and-forth on issues from corruption to infiltration, and the future development of West Bengal.
Political heavyweights made their final appeals to voters for the election on April 29, as voters in the remaining 142 assembly seats look forward to casting their ballot. But what began as a contest of ideologies, truly evolved into a fever pitch of a fierce war of words.
HOW DID TMC VERSUS BJP PLAY OUT?
Throughout the campaign, the TMC and BJP have traded sharp accusations, with the saffron party consistently accusing the Mamata Banerjee-led government of turning West Bengal into a “haven for infiltrators” and presiding over a “syndicate raj”.
Banerjee, meanwhile, has hit back alleging that the BJP is indulging in “divisive politics”. In a more peculiar turn of rhetoric, she even accused it of discouraging the consumption of fish and eggs – non-vegetarian foods – which are staples of the Bengali diet.
Prime Minister Modi, who campaigned extensively across Bengal, has framed this election as a mission to transform the state. In a heartfelt public letter addressed to the people on the final day of campaigning, he spoke of a “unique energy” he experienced during his rallies describing it as a “pilgrimage”.
“To transform every challenge confronting Bengal into an opportunity is a task that is both my destiny and my responsibility,” Modi wrote, adding that he is confident that the next chief minister will be from the BJP.
He specifically reached out to the Matua community, urging them to ignore TMC “lies” regarding the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and promising permanent residency to all refugees. Union home minister Amit Shah complemented this vision by promising a “developed Bengal” (Viksit Bengal) free from “terror, riots, and infiltrators”.
Amit Shah vowed that if the BJP forms the government, it will establish a “special squad” to end cattle smuggling and protect livestock, while also ending the alleged “bhaipo tax” – a reference to the influence of the chief minister’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee. To sweeten the appeal, he promised a monthly allowance of Rs 3,000 for women and unemployed youth, alongside free state transport for women.
Banerjee, however, has remained unmoved by these promises maintaining a posture of supreme confidence. Speaking at a rally in Bhabanipur, where she is seeking re-election, she claimed that her party had already crossed the 100-seat mark following the first phase of polling on April 23.
“If you all vote for us, we will get a two-thirds majority,” Banerjee said, dismissing the BJP’s challenge.
As she has done from the beginning of the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state, she also took aim at the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Centre. She accused the Election Commission-appointed administration of bias.
WHAT DOES THE SECURITY LOOK LIKE?
A total of 3,21,73,837 electors are eligible to vote across 142 assembly constituencies in the second phase. To manage this, the EC has established 41,001 polling stations, all of which will be covered by webcasting to ensure transparency.
Polling will be monitored by 142 general observers, 95 police observers, and 100 expenditure observers. To ensure a peaceful process, a massive force of 2,321 companies of central troops have been deployed across seven districts.
Kolkata alone has seen the highest concentration of security, with 273 companies of central forces stationed in the city. Drones fitted with high-resolution cameras are being used for aerial surveillance to monitor the polling process and deter potential troublemakers.
HAS THERE BEEN ANY PRE-POLL VIOLENCE?
The lead-up to the final day of campaigning was marred by fresh outbreaks of violence. In Hooghly district, TMC MP Mitali Bag was allegedly attacked by BJP workers while travelling to a rally at Goghat.
Bag suffered injuries from shattered glass after her vehicle was vandalised, an act she described as being carried out by “hooligans sheltered by the fascist BJP”. The saffron party has dismissed the incident as “drama”.
In another incident in the Bhatpara area of North 24 Parganas, a CISF jawan – identified as Yogesh Sharma – was shot in the leg during a firing incident outside the residence of BJP candidate Pawan Singh. Four individuals, including a TMC councillor, were arrested. In a separate incident in the Habra constituency, eight crude bombs were discovered on the premises of a primary school designated as a polling booth. While the TMC accused the BJP of planting the explosives to disrupt the vote, the saffron party countered that the ruling party was attempting to intimidate the electorate.
Recognising that motorcycle rallies have often been a catalyst for unrest, the Calcutta High Court intervened on the final day of campaigning. A division bench presided over by Justice Shampa Sarkar modified a previous order to strictly prohibit “biking in groups” and all motorbike rallies from two days prior to the poll until the conclusion of voting on April 29.
The court’s directive aims to prevent the mobility of “hooligans” and ensure that voters can reach the booths without fear of intimidation. Limited exemptions were granted for medical emergencies, essential services, and individual voters.
WHAT ARE THE KEY CONTESTS?
There are several high-profile contests to watch out for – from Bhabanipur to Kolkata Port and Sandeshkhali.
In Bhabanipur, Banerjee faces a stiff challenge from BJP heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari in what is arguably the most watched seat of the phase.
In Kolkata Port, senior TMC leader Firhad Hakim is locked in a battle against BJP’s Rakesh Singh in a minority-dominated constituency that could prove pivotal for the ruling party’s fortunes in the capital. Other critical seats include Bhatpara, Dumdum, Sandeshkhali, and Jadavpur.
The results of the two-phase assembly polls will be known on May 4, when the counting of votes takes place. For now, Bengal seems to be caught between the BJP’s “viksit” promise and TMC’s resolve to protect its 15-year stronghold.
(With agency inputs)
April 27, 2026, 21:04 IST
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