This phase covers key districts including Kolkata, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Hooghly and Purba Bardhaman, effectively the core of the Trinamool Congress’s traditional stronghold. In the 2021 Assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress dominated this region, winning 123 of these 142 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party secured 18 and the Indian Secular Front one.
The contest this time centres on whether the BJP can breach the ruling party’s southern fortress after holding ground in parts of north Bengal, or if Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s party retains its grip and clears the path for a fourth straight term.
High voter turnout marked the first phase, and a similarly strong participation is expected today as campaigning around issues such as corruption, citizenship and welfare schemes gives way to voting across the state.
