Voting for the final phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections commenced today, April 29, 2026, with over 1,448 candidates vying for seats across 142 constituencies. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is engaged in a tight contest against Suvendu Adhikari of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Bhabanipur constituency. The TMC is aiming for a fourth consecutive term in office after securing 215 seats in the previous election held in 2021, where the BJP won 77 seats. Security has been heightened with nearly 2,400 companies of Central Armed Police Forces deployed to ensure a peaceful voting process across 41,001 polling stations in eight districts. Tensions arose in the Falta constituency during a search operation led by IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma, prompting accusations from TMC supporters of intimidation against party workers. The election is critical as both parties seek to solidify their positions in West Bengal's political landscape.