Why Is West Bengal Election Being Conducted in Two Phases This Time?
April 25, Kathmandu. Assembly elections are currently underway in four Indian states – Assam, Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu – along with the union territory of Puducherry. The first phase of polling concluded yesterday, and the final phase is scheduled for April 29. Vote counting for all assembly seats across these states will take place on May 4. Among these states, West Bengal stands out for its highly intense political activity. This election marks a significant departure from the 2021 assembly polls, which were conducted over eight phases from March 27 to April 29. This time, the Election Commission has streamlined the process, limiting it to just two phases to facilitate a smoother and more efficient election.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar stated that the decision to reduce the number of phases followed extensive consultations with all stakeholders and was deemed both appropriate and convenient. This change reflects not just technical considerations but also deep political and administrative significance.
The eight-phase election in 2021 is considered an extraordinary event in West Bengal’s electoral history. Running from March 27 to April 29, it was the longest state assembly election in India. Of the state’s 294 constituencies, voting took place in 292 during the main election period; two constituencies postponed polls due to candidates’ deaths, with voting held there five months later. At that time, the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak, necessitating measures to reduce infection risk. The number of voters per polling station was reduced from 1,500 to 1,000, leading to a 31 percent increase in polling stations, from 77,000 to over 100,000, thereby requiring multiple phases for management. Security challenges were significant, requiring central paramilitary deployment. Considering West Bengal’s history of electoral violence, the Commission deployed 125 companies of central paramilitary forces.
The decision to conduct only two phases this year is driven by serious strategic and administrative reasons, reflecting both geographic and political factors. Unlike 2021, when heightened COVID-19 concerns necessitated increased polling stations, the current conditions allow for a simplified process. Under a ‘zero tolerance’ policy, the Commission appointed new senior officials including West Bengal’s Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty, the Home Secretary, and the Director General of Police immediately after announcing the election.
Political parties including the BJP, which previously favored multiple phases, as well as the Left Front and Congress, have also this time requested fewer phases. According to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, this election schedule is designed to be manageable for voters, security agencies, and political parties alike.
The two-phase election divides the state geographically and politically. The first phase, held yesterday, covered 152 constituencies, including 54 seats in North Bengal, known as a stronghold of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This phase is politically sensitive due to triangular contests in Muslim-majority areas like Malda and Murshidabad, and especially the high-profile race in Nandigram between Suvendu Adhikari and Mamata Banerjee, which has drawn national attention.
The second phase, covering 142 seats, includes the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) fortress territory comprising Kolkata, Howrah, and the 24 Parganas districts. In the 2021 elections, TMC won nearly 87 percent of seats in this region. The results of this phase will be decisive in determining Mamata Banerjee’s prospects for returning to power.