West Bengal Election 2026 highlights: 91.58% turnout in WB's phase 1, CEC hails ‘highest-ever polling percentage’

West Bengal election 2026 LIVE: Reacting to reports of violence during Phase 1 polling in West Bengal, Bishnupur BJP MP Saumitra Khan alleged that such clashes reflect the “culture” of the TMC. He claimed the BJP has already crossed the 100-seat mark, calling the day “historic,” and asserted that the party will do everything to “save West Bengal,” adding that “the real game is being played by the people” this time. (ANI)

West Bengal election 2026 LIVE: BJP candidate from Nandigram and Bhabanipur, Suvendu Adhikhari, visited some polling booths post casting his vote and while speaking to reporters outside one booth said: "I was not allowed to enter this polling booth. The common man wants peace. Jo shanti todega hum usko todne ka kaam karenge."

As per Election Commission of India, 41.11% of voters had turned out to cast their votes till 11 am in Phase 1 polling in West Bengal.

West Bengal election 2026 LIVE: BJP candidate from Nandigram and Bhabanipur Suvendu Adhikari visited vulnerable polling booths in Nandigram after casting his vote earlier this morning.

West Bengal election 2026 LIVE: BJP leader Dilip Ghosh says Murshidabad, like other Bengal regions, will be transformed when BJP comes to power. Speaking to PTI over the crude bomb hurled in Murshidabad, Ghosh said: "Murshidabad is such a prominent district. There are irregularities in every matter. Whatever happens in the country, it happens there. When CAA was passed, when the Waqf Bill was passed, there were riots and unrest everywhere. Houses were burned, our office and temple were burned. People have infiltrated from the whole of Bangladesh, coming from here for ID cards and then creating unrest in the country. When change happens, everything will transform."

West Bengal Election 2026 LIVE: TMC candidate from Kharagpur Sadar, Pradeep Sarkar, says, "Even though campaigning ended,(on Tuesday) Dilip Ghosh continued to campaign yesterday. There is no such thing as a 'BJP-belt'. In 2022, I lost by a thin margin. We want to ask the BJP, if Dilip Ghosh was such a good candidate, then why was he removed as the MP? Can the BJP tell why?"

"We suspect that the BJP might do something wrong wherever they are getting fewer votes." (ANI)

West Bengal Election 2026 LIVE: Aam Janata Unnayan Party chief Humayun Kabir on Thursday alleged the ruling Trinamool Congress bribed several of his party candidates to keep them out of the poll fray.

Kabir, who cast his vote during the early hours of polling, was met with protests from Trinamool Congress supporters who raised "go back" slogans when the leader visited a polling booth in Shibnagar village in Murshidabad's Naoda assembly constituency.

The protesters, led by local TMC leaders, surrounded Kabir's vehicle and raised slogans while branding him a "BJP agent". The demonstration sparked tension in the area around the polling station.

Kabir, an MLA from Murshidabad's Bharatpur, who has now formed his own party and is seeking re-election, was suspended from the TMC in December last year after he proposed the construction of a Babri-like mosque. (PTI)

West Bengal Election 2026 LIVE: An argument broke out between supporters of TMC and BJP candidate from Siliguri assembly constituency, Sankar Ghosh, in Siliguri. (ANI)

West Bengal Election 2026 LIVE: Narrating the bomb blast incident in Murshidabad, one of the victims of the reported crude bomb incident in Murshidabad said Humayun Kabir was behind the incident. The victim told ANI: "I had stepped out yesterday to offer Namaz at around 8 pm... I was standing... two boys came and threw a bomb near my foot. Humayun Kabir's party workers have done this..."

Meanwhile Kabir says: "I told all my people to stay calm. I want the voting and election to happen peacefully, and everyone should participate. My aim or intention is not to hit, scare, or threaten anyone," he said.

ASP Majid Khan denied the incident, saying "situation is peaceful. Nothing has happened anywhere...", according to ANI.

West Bengal Election 2026 LIVE: Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar said, "Reports of bombing in Murshidabad, EC should be more alert as this area has history of bomb attacks." (PTI)

West Bengal Election 2026 LIVE: BJP candidate from Asansol Dakshin seat Agnimitra Paul on an incident of crude bomb being hurled in Nowda, Murshidabad district, says, "I had said this in morning itself. The Mamata Banerjee government will do such things, hurl bombs, load shedding. They will try to damage the cameras. This is the mechanism of TMC. They think they will prevent voters from coming out to vote by doing such things. QRT, Election Commission must take note of such incidents."

West Bengal Election 2026 LIVE: In Murshidabad, where incidents of violence have been reported, Humayun Kabir visited the site of a crude bomb explosion that injured several people earlier in the day. His arrival triggered a clash of TMC workers, who raised slogans, with police at the spot.

West Bengal Election 2026 LIVE: Congress's Suri candidate Sanjoy Adhikari alleged he was unable to cast his vote despite reaching his polling station at 7 am due to an EVM glitch.

"We have already lodged a complaint with the district magistrate and the local polling officer, yet the machine has not been repaired so far. Hundreds of voters are already standing in queues before the booth, and there's no EC representative here who can tell us when polls will resume," Adhikari told PTI videos, after polling remained held up for about an hour. (PTI)

West Bengal Election 2026 LIVE: BJP candidate from Birbhum Jagannath Chatterjee said, "People are coming out in large numbers to cast their votes... In a few places, there were some initial issues like, malfunctioning EVMs and cameras but those have been replaced. After that, voting now appears to be proceeding peacefully. There are a few isolated attempts at intimidation and some sporadic plans of disturbance by certain elements, including some individuals allegedly linked to TMC, but we are continuously filing complaints. I believe the CRPF’s activity has been very effective. Their movement, including QRT deployment, has been quite strong." (PTI)

Assembly Election West Bengal 2026 LIVE: Security has been tightened at Kali temple in Kolkata ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit.

Assembly Election West Bengal 2026 LIVE: On crude bomb hurling incident reported yesterday, Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AUJP) founder Humayun Kabir says, "There was an attempt. I told my people to stay calm. Voting should be held peacefully. I have no intention of hurting or threatening anyone. I will visit there." (ANI)

Assembly Election West Bengal 2026 LIVE: EVM glitches disrupted voting at a few places in West Bengal on Thursday as polling was underway in the first phase of the assembly elections, officials said.

Overnight violence was also reported from some places amid the unprecedented security arrangements made.

In Murshidabad district, polling was halted at booth number 156 in Parsalika Madanmohan Primary School in the Beldanga assembly segment after an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) developed a snag, they said.

At booth number 212 in the Samsherganj assembly constituency, voting did not begin on time because of similar issues. Polling was also delayed at booth number 130 in Kandi, officials added.

In Purba Medinipur, an EVM malfunction was reported in Birulia of the Nandigram assembly constituency.

In Cooch Behar, voting at booth number 229 in Town High School was suspended for nearly an hour before resuming. Polling was also delayed at booth number 231 in Malda district's Habibpur constituency.

In Siliguri in Darjeeling district, polling could not start on time at booth number 26/31 in Margaret School because of a faulty EVM.

- PTI

Assembly Election West Bengal 2026 LIVE: Polling was underway in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections amid tight security across 152 assembly constituencies and 16 districts, with a turnout of 18.76% until 9am. West Midnapore recorded the highest turnout of 20.51%, and Malda the lowest (16.96%).

Read full report here

Assembly Election West Bengal 2026 LIVE: EVM glitches disrupted voting at a few places in West Bengal on Thursday as polling was underway in the first phase of the assembly elections, officials said, news agency PTI is reporting.

Assembly Election West Bengal 2026 LIVE: Voting for the 2026 West Bengal elections was disrupted at Balua Chara High School booth in Mothabari constituency as the sector officer absconded amid a reported malfunction in the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM). (ANI)

Assembly Election West Bengal 2026 LIVE: 18.76% turnout was recorded in Bengal's first phase polling as per date by Election Commission of India in first two hours of voting.

Assembly Election West Bengal 2026 LIVE: Several people injured as unidentified people hurled crude bomb in Nowda, Murshidabad district. More details are awaited.

Assembly Election West Bengal 2026 LIVE: The Election Commission of India has sought a report from the District Magistrate in Domkal, Murshidabad, over alleged violence that took place last night.

Assembly Election West Bengal 2026 LIVE: WB CEO Manoj Kumar Agarwal at the integrated control room in his office where live feed are coming from across 44,000 odd polling stations.

Assembly Election West Bengal 2026 LIVE: TMC's Nandigram candidate Pabitra Kar also cast his vote at Shambhunath Primary Education Sadan.