High-voltage drama unfolded in Kolkata on the night of April 30 and early May 1, 2026, as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally inspected the EVM strong room at Sakhawat Memorial School in Bhabanipur. Citing “suspicious activity” seen on CCTV, the TMC supremo warned of a “life-and-death battle” if any attempt is made to tamper with the machines before the May 4 counting date. While the Election Commission dismissed the allegations as “baseless,” clarifying that officials were merely segregating postal ballots in the presence of observers, the visit has intensified the prestige battle in Bhabanipur, where Banerjee faces a fierce challenge from BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari.

As polling concludes across four states and one Union Territory, exit polls present a shifting political landscape for 2026. While the BJP is projected to dominate in Assam and maintains a slight edge in West Bengal, the battle for Kolkata remains tight with some pollsters backing a TMC victory. In Tamil Nadu, while the DMK remains a favorite, actor Vijay’s TVK has emerged as a major disruptor, with some polls even suggesting a hung assembly. Meanwhile, Kerala appears set for its traditional power shift with the UDF leading the race, and Puducherry looks likely to retain its NDA government.

The 2026 Bengal elections are being defined by two contrasting stories: a historic 93% voter turnout and the shocking deletion of 91 lakh voters. As critical districts see massive numbers of citizens struck off the rolls, the controversy over “Special Intensive Revision” has become a central battleground. With the Election Commission defending its “purification” drive and the opposition crying foul, the integrity of the voter list has become as much a part of the story as the voting itself.

West Bengal has created electoral history in the 2026 Assembly elections by recording an unprecedented voter turnout of nearly 92.9%, the highest since Independence. The remarkable participation highlights a surge in democratic engagement and reflects the intensity of the political contest across the state.

The Calcutta High Court recently reprimanded the West Bengal government for failing to comply with a high-stakes security mandate, noting that only 8 kilometres of land has been handed over to the [Border Security Force](BSF) since January 2026.

In a major pre-election crackdown, security forces across West Bengal have arrested over 1,500 individuals ahead of the final phase of the Assembly elections, aiming to ensure a peaceful and fair voting process. The large-scale operation was carried out jointly by state police and central forces, reflecting heightened concerns over law and order in the concluding stage of polling.