In a landmark decision, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has scheduled the 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections in just two phases, a sharp decline from the eight-phase marathon in 2021. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced that the primary objective is to conduct a peaceful election while respecting the logistical proposals sent by various political parties.

Phase 1 (April 23): The first phase will cover the entire North Bengal region along with the Jungle Mahal and Rarh Bengal belts. Key districts participating in this phase include Darjeeling, Cooch Behar, Malda, West Midnapore, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum, and the twin Bardhaman districts. The notification for this phase will be issued on March 30, with the last date for nominations being April 6.

Phase 2 (April 29): The focus will shift to the state capital and its neighboring districts in the final phase. Voting will take place in Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, and Nadia. The nomination process for this phase concludes on April 13.

The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4, 2026. With only two phases, the ECI faces a significant challenge in maintaining law and order, specifically regarding the deployment of central forces in sensitive zones like Birbhum and the border areas. This condensed schedule marks a major shift in Bengal’s electoral history since 2001.