The first phase of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections concluded with a record voter turnout of 92.88%, surpassing the 82.3% recorded in the 2021 elections. Predictions from the Phalodi Satta Bazar, an informal betting network, indicate that the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Mamata Banerjee, is expected to win between 158 and 161 seats in the 294-member Assembly, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could secure 127 to 130 seats. This marks a significant narrowing of the gap compared to the 2021 elections, where the TMC won 216 seats and the BJP won 77 seats. The Congress and Left parties are projected to remain on the fringes, with minimal impact on the overall outcome. Historically, increased voter participation in West Bengal has been associated with political shifts, making the current election particularly unpredictable. However, it is important to note that the Phalodi Satta Bazar's predictions are unofficial and based on betting trends, and thus should be approached with caution.