New Delhi/Kolkata, April 27: Campaigning for the second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections ended on Monday evening. Voting for the remaining 142 seats of the state’s 294-member Assembly will take place on Wednesday (April 29) from 7 am to 6 pm.
In view of the violence at several polling stations during the first phase of voting on April 23, more stringent security arrangements have been put in place.
According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), voting will take place in Kolkata, Howrah, Nadia, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, and Purba Bardhaman. Voters will exercise their franchise at approximately 40,000 polling stations in West Bengal in the second phase. This phase also includes several sensitive areas, due to which the Election Commission has taken special precautions regarding security arrangements. To ensure peaceful, fair, and fear-free voting, a total of 2,348 companies of state police and central paramilitary forces will be deployed. Of these, the highest number of 507 companies will be deployed in North 24 Parganas district.
Given the long coastal border with Bangladesh and the sensitivity of the Sundarbans region, coastal patrolling and security surveillance have been increased in South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas districts. The administration has made special vigilance and security arrangements in the border areas to prevent any untoward incident.
On the final day of the election campaign, leaders of all major political parties exerted their full strength. Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a public meeting in Barrackpore and appealed for votes in favor of the BJP.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah held two major road shows: the first from Behala police station to Manton and the second in the Chandannagar Bagbazar area of Hooghly. During the road shows, Amit Shah targeted the state government and sought support for the BJP candidates.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also participated in a public rally from Sukanta Setu in Jadavpur in support of the Jadavpur and Tollygunge candidates. She then addressed a public rally in her own constituency, Bhawanipur. Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee campaigned extensively in Ranaghat, Hooghly, Arambagh, and Maheshtala.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also participated in four election events. He began with a road show in the Kalyani Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas, followed by a public rally in Dhanekhali in Hooghly, then held a road show in the Dum Dum Assembly constituency in Kolkata, and finally addressed a rally in Rajarhat Gopalpur, urging people to vote for the BJP.
The election atmosphere in West Bengal has been intense for the past month. With the campaigning coming to an end on Monday evening amid rallies, road shows, public meetings, and heated political accusations, the decision now rests with the voters.
It is noteworthy that West Bengal recorded a record 93.19 percent voter turnout in the first phase of polling on April 23, further highlighting the electoral enthusiasm in the state. This unprecedented voter turnout has influenced the strategies and electoral calculations of political parties.
All eyes are now on the April 29 polling and the counting of votes on May 4. Counting of votes for West Bengal’s 294 assembly seats, along with 140 in Kerala, 126 in Assam, 234 in Tamil Nadu, and 30 in Puducherry, will also take place on the same day.
Political analysts believe that the final outcome of this political game in Bengal will be known on May 4. The record turnout in the first phase has changed all expectations, making the contest extremely interesting and close. Political parties and the general public are now keenly watching the April 29 polling and the final results. However, the real picture of power will be clear only after the counting of votes on May 4, when it will be decided who will take over the reins of Bengal.