The political atmosphere in West Bengal is intensifying as the state moves closer to the 2026 Assembly Elections. Following the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the formal announcement of the election schedule is now considered a mere formality. According to sources, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is likely to announce the poll dates on March 2, with the elections expected to be conducted in three phases.

Potential Phase-wise Distribution

While the State Election Commission had initially expressed readiness to conduct the polls in a single day, recent reports suggest a multi-phase approach to ensure security and administrative efficiency.

North Bengal : Sources indicate that all eight districts in North Bengal may go to the polls in a single, consolidated phase.

South Bengal: The southern districts are likely to be split across two separate phases.

Phase A: One cluster may include Kolkata, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, and Nadia.

Phase B: The remaining districts—Murshidabad, Birbhum, East and West Burdwan, Bankura, Purulia, East and West Midnapore, and Jhargram—are expected to vote together.

Heightened Vigilance in Sensitive Districts

Safety and the prevention of electoral violence remain top priorities for the Commission. Five districts have been identified as particularly “unrest-prone,” requiring special monitoring. The ECI is expected to keep a close watch on:

Murshidabad

Malda

Birbhum

Cooch Behar

South 24 Parganas

Security and Central Forces

The final decision on whether to stick to a three-phase schedule rests heavily with the National Election Commission. Key factors influencing this decision include the availability and deployment of central paramilitary forces and the status of “sensitive” booths.

To discuss these logistical challenges, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal is scheduled to hold a high-level meeting with the Full Bench of the Commission. A “green signal” for a reduced number of phases will only be given if there are sufficient security personnel to guarantee a peaceful voting process across the state.

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