High-Stakes Showdown Between TMC and BJP for 152 Seats in Phase 1 of Bengal Elections: Read 10 Key Highlights

Under the first phase of the Assembly elections in Bengal—being held following a lengthy process of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list—voting is underway on Thursday for 152 seats across 16 districts, under heavy security cover.

These districts include eight from North Bengal, three from South Bengal, and five from the Junglemahal region. According to information provided by the office of Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer, a total of 2,407 companies of central forces have been deployed for the first phase. The highest deployment—273 companies—is stationed in the Purba Medinipur district. Polling stations have been transformed into impregnable fortresses, with central forces maintaining control over a 100-meter radius surrounding them.

10 Key Highlights of the Election

Out of the 294 seats across the state's 16 districts, approximately 3.6 crore voters are expected to cast their votes today for 152 seats. A fierce contest is anticipated in at least 80 of these seats.

Having completed three consecutive terms since 2011, many observers believe that this could be the toughest election Mamata Banerjee has faced to date. However, similar sentiments were expressed in 2021 as well, when Banerjee's Trinamool Congress won 215 seats—marking its best-ever electoral performance. In that election, the BJP had secured 77 seats.

The BJP has been steadily chipping away at Trinamool's initial lead. It has relentlessly highlighted issues concerning corruption, law and order, and the lack of development—problems that have plagued Bengal for the past five decades.

Trinamool has framed this contest as a battle for self-determination against "outsiders." Furthermore, it has portrayed the election as an existential struggle against the Central Government, alleging that the Centre is refusing to release funds allocated to the state.

A cause for concern for the ruling party is the fact that the 'Special Intensive Revision' of the voter list, conducted by the Election Commission, has resulted in the removal of approximately 89 lakh names from the electoral rolls. This figure is only slightly higher than the victory margin secured by the Trinamool Congress in 2021.

In 2021, Mamata Banerjee's party garnered 48 percent of the votes, while the BJP received 38 percent. Data indicates that, due to the impact of the SIR (Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls), voter lists in several districts—where Trinamool's victory margins are very narrow—have shrunk by more than 11.6 percent.

Prominent Trinamool Congress candidates contesting in this phase include Gautam Deb from Siliguri, Udayan Guha from Dinhata, Firhad Hakim from the Kolkata Port constituency, and Pabitra Kar from Nandigram.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari is contesting from his stronghold, Nandigram. He is also challenging Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur, where polling is scheduled to take place in the second phase. Other key BJP figures include Union Minister Nisith Pramanik from Mathabhanga and former State President Dilip Ghosh from Kharagpur Sadar.

The Election Commission has transformed the state into a fortress, deploying 2,407 companies of Central Armed Police Forces, comprising over 240,000 personnel.

No one—other than voters, election officials, police personnel on duty, and authorized agents of political parties—is being permitted to enter this secured zone. Four personnel from the central forces have been deployed at every polling station. Personnel from the central forces are authorized to move to any location at their own discretion; local police personnel will assist them in this regard.