The second phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 will cover 142 constituencies in South Bengal and Kolkata. This phase is very important for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, as it will test her party’s strength in its core region.

The first phase saw a record 92 percent voter turnout. That phase mainly tested the strength of the Bharatiya Janata Party in North Bengal and nearby areas.

Now, the contest shifts to South Bengal. This region is the main base of the All India Trinamool Congress. Key districts include Kolkata, Howrah, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, and Purba Bardhaman.

High Stakes in Key Constituencies

The stakes in this phase are extremely high. The BJP faces a tough challenge to break into TMC’s stronghold. The ruling party had dominated this region in the last election.

The Bhabanipur seat stands out as the biggest contest. Mamata Banerjee will face her former ally-turned-rival Suvendu Adhikari.

This contest is seen as the “mother of all electoral contests."

Bhabanipur is crucial for TMC to protect Banerjee’s influence. At the same time, BJP hopes to repeat its 2021 success in Nandigram and challenge her dominance.

Results from 2021 Elections

In the 2021 elections, TMC performed very strongly in this region. It won 123 out of 142 seats. The BJP managed to win only 18 seats. South Bengal includes around 70 constituencies where Muslim voters play a key role. Their voting pattern could again influence the outcome.

North and South 24 Parganas are especially important. Political leaders often call them the “Uttar Pradesh of Bengal’s electoral map” because of their strong impact on overall results.

In 2021, TMC won all 11 seats in Kolkata. It also won all 16 seats in Howrah. In South 24 Parganas, it won 30 out of 31 seats. In North 24 Parganas, it secured 28 out of 33 seats. It also won 14 out of 18 seats in Hooghly and 8 out of 17 seats in Nadia.

What Is at Stake Now

For the BJP, this phase will show whether issues like anti-incumbency, corruption, and law and order can weaken TMC’s grip. For TMC, this region is critical to secure a fourth straight term.

“This has always been our strongest zone. In 2021 and even in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, people here stood with us. If we retain this belt, Bengal stays with Mamata Banerjee," a senior TMC leader told PTI.

The numbers also highlight the importance of this phase. North 24 Parganas has 33 seats. South 24 Parganas has 31 seats. Howrah has 16 seats. Nadia has 17 seats. Hooghly has 18 seats. Purba Bardhaman has 16 seats. Kolkata has 11 seats, which carry high symbolic value.

The BJP has campaigned aggressively in these areas. It held rallies and roadshows. It raised issues such as corruption, infiltration, post-poll violence, and women’s safety.

Impact of Voter List Revision

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has become a major issue in this phase. Around 27 lakh voters have been removed from the electoral rolls.

The Election Commission said this step was needed for “purification” of the voter list. However, many voters, especially in Matua-dominated areas, have shown anger after their names were removed.

North 24 Parganas lost over 12.6 lakh names. South 24 Parganas lost more than 10.91 lakh names. Kolkata saw nearly 6.97 lakh names removed.

In at least 25 constituencies, the number of deleted voters is higher than the previous victory margin. Experts believe this could change not just the results but also the political narrative after the elections.