West Bengal exit polls 2026 Date and Time: Check when you can get an idea who is leading the TMC vs BJP race
Voting for Phase 2 of the West Bengal Assembly elections is scheduled to be held on April 29 and the silence period will remain in force till 6 pm on the same day. During this period, all media platforms are prohibited from publishing or broadcasting election-related content.
Restrictions on media and opinion polls
The Election Commission has directed television, radio channels and cable networks to ensure that content broadcast during the silence period does not contain material that could influence voters or influence the outcome of the election. This includes any opinion polls or opinions that could boost or bias the prospects of candidates or parties.
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Poll ban recovery timeline and penalties
Media organizations were informed that it is prohibited to conduct and publish exit polls from 07:00 in the morning on April 9 to 18:30 in the evening on April 29. Violation of these rules may be punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
High participation was recorded in the first stage
In the first phase, West Bengal recorded a voter turnout of around 92 per cent amid isolated incidents of violence, while Tamil Nadu saw over 84 per cent voting. The elections saw the Bharatiya Janata Party trying to oust the Mamata Banerjee-led government in West Bengal and expand its presence in Tamil Nadu, while the Trinamool Congress was seeking a fourth consecutive term.
The second phase of voting in West Bengal will take place on April 29, covering the remaining 142 of the total 294 seats. The counting of votes for Kerala, Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will be held on May 4.
