Voting is taking place today in two states that have long eluded the BJP, and Bengal will be the focus of greater attention than Tamil Nadu. In the midst of the political frenzy surrounding the revision of the voter list, the Trinamool Congress and the BJP are engaged in a desperate struggle.
Ten things about the 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections are as follows:

• Today, over 3.6 crore voters are anticipated to cast ballots in 152 of the state's 294 constituencies spread across 16 districts, including Nandigram and Darjeeling, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar in north Bengal. In at least 80 seats, a close race is anticipated.
• Many believe this may be Mamata Banerjee's hardest election to date, having served three consecutive terms since overthrowing the 35-year CPM dictatorship in 2011.However, Banerjee's Trinamool Congress received a similar designation in 2021 after achieving their record result of 215 seats. 77 seats had been won by the BJP.
• By persistently pointing out the corruption, law and order problems, and lack of development that have plagued Bengal for more than 50 years, the BJP has been eroding the Trinamool's early edge.
• The competition, according to the Trinamool, is one of survival against a Center that won't release public finances and self-determination versus outsiders in everything from cuisine to culture.
• The Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of the voter list, which eliminated almost 89 lakh voters—roughly 11.6% of the state's electorate—has alarmed the ruling party. The number is little higher than the Trinamool Congress's 2021 victory margin.
• Banerjee's party received 10% more votes in 2021—48% compared to the BJP's 38%. In certain districts where the Trinamool's victory margin is narrow, the SIR impact has reduced the voter list by over 11.6%, according to data.
• Goutam Deb from Siliguri, Udayan Guha from Dinhata, Firhad Hakim from the Kolkata Port region, and Pabitra Kar from Nandigram are among the well-known Trinamool Congress candidates running in this phase.
• Suvendu Adhikari, a prominent member of the BJP, is running from Nandigram. In Bhabanipur, where elections are scheduled for the second phase, he is also running against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Former state president Dilip Ghosh from Kharagpur Sadar and Union Minister Nisith Pramanik from Mathabhanga are also important opponents of the BJP.
• By deploying an unprecedented 2,407 Central Armed Police Forces companies with over 2.4 lakh men, the Election Commission has transformed the state into a stronghold.
• Today, 234 assembly seats in Tamil Nadu are up for election. On April 29, Bengal's second round of elections will take place. On May 4, the votes will be counted.