West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday accused the BJP of trying to “rig” the West Bengal assembly elections, alleging that Central forces and election observers were acting at the behest of the saffron party.The BJP, however, dismissed her allegations, accusing her of “trying to create confusion sensing public anger against the TMC”.Visiting several polling booths in her Bhabanipur assembly constituency where voting is underway, Banerjee alleged that democratic norms have been severely compromised by the authorities this assembly election.The Bhabanipur assembly segment is Banerjee’s political bastion, where she is locked in a prestige battle against Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, in what is being seen as a symbolic rematch of Nandigram, where he had defeated her in the 2021 assembly polls. (Agencies)Around 90% voter turnout till 5 pmApril 29, 2026 5:37 pmAround 90% voter turnout till 5 pmOver 78 per cent turnout by 3 pmApril 29, 2026 3:50 pmA voter turnout of 78.68 per cent was recorded by 3 pm. PTIOver 61 per cent voting till 1 pmApril 29, 2026 2:09 pmOver 61 per cent of the 3.21 crore electors exercised their franchise till 1 pm of the second and final phase of polling in West Bengal amid attacks on a few candidates, while tension gripped the Bhabanipur seat briefly as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari took swipes at one another in the same booth area.Polling peacefully under way, turnout may surpass second phase: Bengal CEO AgarwalApril 29, 2026 2:07 pmThe second phase of voting in West Bengal was progressing peacefully amid elaborate security arrangements, the state’s Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal said on Wednesday, exuding confidence that the turnout might surpass the first phase figures.TMC, BJP workers trade slogans as Suvendu visits Kalighat area; LoP seeks more CAPF deploymentApril 29, 2026 1:26 pmTension flared up in Kolkata’s Kalighat area on Wednesday when the BJP’s Bhabanipur candidate Suvendu Adhikari visited a polling booth and was greeted with slogans by TMC workers, prompting police intervention and a complaint by the opposition leader to the EC seeking deployment of additional central forces. Security forces had to resort to a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd.Bhangar tense during polling, ISF claims voters, agents threatenedApril 29, 2026 1:24 pmFresh tension gripped Bhangar and adjoining areas of South 24 Parganas on Wednesday during voting for the second and final phase of West Bengal Assembly elections, with the Indian Secular Front (ISF) alleging intimidation of polling agents and attempts to influence voters by TMC workers. Trouble was reported from several pockets of Bhangar and Canning Purba constituency since morning, prompting heavy deployment of central forces, state police and NIA teams in sensitive areas.Women’s safety top priority: Mother of R G Kar rape-murder victimApril 29, 2026 12:40 pmBJP’s Panihati candidate Ratna Debnath, also the mother of RG Kar rape-murder victim, cast her vote in Sodepur in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district and said women’s safety is her top priority. She exuded confidence that people would vote for a regime change and free West Bengal from “the misrule of TMC”. “The TMC failed to address the worsening law and order situation in the state. Only one arrest has been made in the RG Kar case. How did the accused get access to a secure place supposedly guarded by hospital security?” she told reporters.Mithun casts voteApril 29, 2026 12:39 pmDedicate my vote to those who were disenfranchised, stripped of their rights: CPI(M)’s Md SalimApril 29, 2026 12:38 pmCPI(M) politburo member and the party’s West Bengal secretary, Md Salim, on Wednesday said he dedicated his vote to those who were “disenfranchised by the SIR exercise”, alleging it was carried out with a design to strip people of their constitutional rights. Speaking to PTI videos after casting his vote at the St Thomas Girls’ School in Kolkata, Salim said polls were taking place peacefully so far, apart from some sporadic and minor incidents.39.97 per cent polling till 11 amApril 29, 2026 12:37 pmNearly 40 per cent of the 3.21 crore electors voted till 11 am of the second phase of polling in West Bengal amid sporadic violence, while tension gripped the Bhabanipur seat briefly as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari took swipes at one another in the same booth area.BJP’s Basanti candidate claims attack by TMC ‘goons’April 29, 2026 12:01 pmBJP candidate from Basanti assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas, Bikash Sardar, on Wednesday alleged that “200-250 TMC goons” attacked his car and assaulted his driver during polling for the second and final phase of the West Bengal assembly elections. The TMC did not immediately respond to the allegations. Sardar claimed the incident took place in the Kanthalberia area when he was visiting polling booths in the constituency.TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek dares PM Modi to resign if BJP loses Bengal pollsApril 29, 2026 11:58 amTMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien on Wednesday challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resign if the BJP loses the West Bengal Assembly elections to the Mamata Banerjee-led party. In a video message, O’Brien claimed that Modi had projected himself as the BJP’s face across all 294 Assembly seats in the state and dared him to accept the challenge.’Singham’ cop Ajay Pal Sharma, at centre of row, keeps close watch on Bengal polling amid TMC protestsApril 29, 2026 11:58 amSpecial police observer Ajay Pal Sharma on Wednesday toured West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, keeping vigil on the polling process during the second phase of Assembly elections, officials said. Read more: https://www.Jattvibe.com/news/india/singham-cop-ajay-pal-sharma-at-centre-of-row-keeps-close-watch-on-bengal-polling-amid-tmc-protests/Mamata, Suvendu land in same booth area in BhabanipurApril 29, 2026 11:31 amWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday morning landed in the same polling booth area in Bhabanipur’s Chakraberia and took swipes at one another without any direct interaction or exchange of courtesies. The incident took place in ward number 70 of Chakraberia, where Banerjee was already seated outside after receiving complaints of alleged intimidation of local TMC leaders. However, they did not come face-to-face.BJP will form govt in Bengal with thumping majority: NabinApril 29, 2026 11:29 amBJP president Nitin Nabin on Wednesday voiced confidence that his party will form the government in West Bengal with a “thumping majority”.NIA officials deployed in 7 Bengal Assembly seats for phase 2 pollsApril 29, 2026 11:23 amNIA officials have been deployed in at least seven Assembly seats of West Bengal where the second phase of polling is under way on Wednesday, after the Election Commission asked the federal probe agency to ensure bombs are not used to disrupt polling. Read more: https://www.Jattvibe.com/news/india/nia-officials-deployed-in-7-bengal-assembly-seats-for-phase-2-polls/Violence, vandalism reported in BhangarApril 29, 2026 10:24 amIncidents of violence and vandalism were reported from parts of West Bengal during the early hours of voting in the second phase of the assembly elections on Wednesday, police said. The incidents were reported from multiple locations, including Chapra, Shantipur, Nimtala and Bhangar, they said. A BJP polling agent was allegedly assaulted by “miscreants linked to the ruling TMC” at booth number 53 in Chapra in Nadia district, party leaders said.Bengal records 18.39 per cent turnout till 9 amApril 29, 2026 8:57 amA total of 18.39 per cent of 3.21 crore voters exercised their franchise in the first two hours of polling to 142 constituencies in the second and final phase of West Bengal assembly elections, a senior EC official said. Till 9 am, Purba Bardhaman district recorded the highest turnout at 20.86 per cent, followed by Hooghly at 20.16 per cent, he said. Nadia recorded 18.5 per cent turnout, followed by North 24 Parganas (17.81 per cent), Kolkata Uttar (17.28 per cent) and South 24 Parganas (17.25 per cent), Kolkata Dakshin (16.81 per cent), he elaborated.Polling begins for 142 seatsApril 29, 2026 8:55 amVoting began on Wednesday in 142 constituencies in the second and final phase of the West Bengal assembly elections, amid unprecedented security arrangements and a high-stakes contest that could decide whether the ruling TMC retains its dominance over southern districts or the BJP can force open the gates of power in the state. Polling started at 7 am with voters lining up outside booths across Kolkata, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Hooghly and Purba Bardhaman – districts that together form the political and electoral core of the state.Mamata visits polling booths in her Bhabanipur constituencyApril 29, 2026 7:58 amWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday visited various booths in her Bhabanipur assembly constituency where polling is underway. The Bhabanipur assembly segment is Banerjee’s political bastion, where she faces Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari in a prestige battle seen as a symbolic rematch of Nandigram, where he had defeated her in 2021. The TMC chief generally goes out of her Kalighat residence in the afternoon on the polling day to cast her vote at Mitra Institution school. She, however, went out before 8 am to visit various polling stations in the Bhabanipur assembly segment, including those in the Chetla area, in south Kolkata.PM Modi appeals to people of West Bengal to cast votes in ‘record numbers’April 29, 2026 7:41 amToday is Phase-2 of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026.Urging all those voting today to do so in record numbers and make our democracy more vibrant as well as participative. It is important that the women and youth of West Bengal, in particular, turnout in large numbers…— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 29, 2026