West Bengal is heading into a two-phase Assembly election for its 294 seats, setting up a high-stakes contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the opposition BJP.
Polling is scheduled for April 23 in 152 constituencies, followed by April 29 for the remaining 142 seats. Counting will be held on May 4.
Soon after the election schedule was announced, the Election Commission ordered the transfer of several top state officials, including the chief secretary, home secretary and the police DGP—an unusually swift move that has added to the political churn.
The BJP is attempting to build on its growth in the state, after rising from three seats in 2016 to 77 seats in 2021 to become the principal opposition. The party has also highlighted its track record in other eastern and northeastern states, and points to its 2024 win in Odisha as an example of unseating a long-running government.
However, the party faces strong local resistance from the TMC and is seen as lacking a mass leader with Mamata Banerjee’s appeal. This time, BJP leaders are focusing less on personal attacks and more on projecting central government schemes and criticising the state government over alleged corruption and misuse of power, while senior leaders including Union Home Minister Amit Shah are overseeing groundwork and organisation.
