The second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 will conclude on Wednesday (April 29, 2026). Once voting ends, the fate of candidates across four states and one Union Territory will be sealed inside EVMs. This last phase in West Bengal is being seen as crucial, as it will wrap up the entire election process. Voting is being held on 142 seats in this phase. The political atmosphere across the state is heated, with activities running high in every district. A tough contest is being witnessed between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. Both parties are making last-minute appeals to voters to turn out in large numbers.
All eyes across the country are now on the exit polls. As per Election Commission rules, exit poll results can be released only after 6:30 PM on Wednesday (April 29, 2026). They cannot be made public before that. According to EC data, West Bengal recorded a massive 93.2 percent turnout in the first phase. Tamil Nadu saw 85.1 percent voting. In Assam, polling has ended on all 126 seats, with 85.5 percent turnout. Kerala voted on 140 seats, where the turnout ranged between 75 and 78 percent. Puducherry registered 89.87 percent voting, the highest ever recorded there. Counting of votes in all these states and the Union Territory will take place on May 4, when the results will be declared.
What is an Exit Poll?
In simple terms, an exit poll is a kind of survey. After voters cast their ballots and step out of the polling booth, they are asked whom they voted for. The idea is to gauge the public mood so an early estimate can be drawn before official results arrive. Different survey agencies and media houses deploy their teams at selected polling stations for this. As soon as a voter exits, a few quick questions are put to them. These responses are then compiled and analysed using statistical methods. Based on this, an estimate is made about how many votes each party might get and how many seats it could win.