In the first phase of the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, held on April 23, the state achieved a remarkable 92% voter turnout, the highest since Independence. This phase covered 152 seats across 16 districts, with the remaining seats to be contested on April 29 and results announced on May 4. The political landscape is predominantly bipolar, featuring the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the turnout as indicative of a desire for change, while TMC leaders expressed confidence in a landslide victory. Key campaign themes included local issues like fish consumption and immigration, with BJP's Amit Shah promising to root out illegal immigrants if elected. Security was heightened with the deployment of 2.4 lakh personnel from various paramilitary forces, and advanced technology was utilized for surveillance at polling stations to ensure a fair electoral process.