BJP, TMC hail EC declaration to hold two-phase polls in Bengal

The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for the Assembly elections in four states and the Union Territory of Puducherry on Sunday.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, centre, with Election Commissioners S S Sandhu, left, and Vivek Joshi during a press conference to announce the Assembly election schedule for West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Sunday, March 15, 2026. Photo | PTI

KOLKATA: Hailing the Election Commission's decision to hold a two-phase poll in West Bengal, the state BJP on Sunday said people will vote decisively to end the "maha jungle raj" under the ruling TMC, while the ruling party asserted that the election outcome would again favour them.

In a post on X, BJP West Bengal said voters will cast their ballots in two phases on April 23 and April 29.

"This is not merely an election, it is a civilisational battle. The countdown to the end of Maha Jungle Raj has begun," it added.

Referring to the counting date of May 4, the BJP said, "Fifty days to go -- May 4 will mark a new dawn for Bengal."

Responding to the poll announcement, TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said the people of the state are firmly behind the ruling party.

"People of Bengal are with TMC. This was again shown in the massive turnout of youth in Yuva Sathi camps held by the Mamata Banerjee government," he added.