New Delhi, April 23 -- The electoral contest in West Bengal is set to hit its first major milestone on Thursday, April 23, 2026, with 152 constituencies voting in Phase 1. More than 3.22 crore voters are eligible to participate, marking the start of a crucial face-off between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and a reinvigorated Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted prolonged heat stress in 12 districts, and has further advised voters in most districts, except Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar, to cast their votes early, ideally before 11 a.m., to avoid peak heat between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Districts going to the polls include Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri...