Today marks a significant day for West Bengal as voting takes place in 152 constituencies for the first phase of the 2026 Assembly elections. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (of the Trinamool Congress) is vying for reelection against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which aims to unseat her government. The political atmosphere has intensified in the lead-up to the elections, with both parties engaging in rallies and mutual accusations. Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized Banerjee's party, alleging they exploit 'infiltrators' for votes, while TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee rebuked Shah for his remarks about women. The Special Intensive Revision process has led to a significant reduction in the voter base, with estimates indicating a drop of 60 lakh to 90 lakh names, bringing the total eligible voters down to 7.04 crore. Key constituencies to monitor include Bhabanipur, where Banerjee faces BJP's Suvendu Adhikari, and Kharagpur Sadar, where BJP's Dilip Ghosh challenges TMC's Pradip Sarkar. The second phase of voting will occur on April 29, with results expected on May 4.