The second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026 wraps up on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. Once polling ends, the fate of every candidate across four states and one Union Territory will be sealed inside the EVMs.
This last round carries real weight because it marks the close of the entire election exercise. Voting in Phase 2 is being held on 142 seats, and the mood across Bengal is charged, with political activity running high in every district.
The fight on the ground is largely between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP. Both parties have been making last-minute appeals, urging voters to turn out in big numbers.
Now, all eyes are on the exit polls. As per the Election Commission’s rules, exit poll numbers can only be made public after 6:30 PM on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. Releasing them before that window is not allowed.
Going by the EC’s figures, Phase 1 in West Bengal saw a record 93.2 per cent turnout. Tamil Nadu recorded 85.1 per cent. In Assam, polling wrapped up on all 126 seats with 85.5 per cent voters turning up. Kerala polled on 140 seats, registering between 75 and 78 per cent. Puducherry touched 89.87 per cent, the highest ever turnout there.
Counting of votes for all these states and the Union Territory will be taken up on May 4, when the final results will roll in.
So what exactly is an exit poll?
Put simply, it is a survey. When voters step out of a polling booth after casting their ballot, they are asked whom they voted for. The idea is to gauge the public mood and form an early estimate before the official results are declared.
Different survey agencies and media houses deploy their teams at select polling booths. As soon as a voter walks out, a few quick questions are put to them. The responses are then collected and analysed using statistical methods.
Based on this data, projections are drawn on how many votes each party may pick up and how many seats it is likely to win.