Hardoi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said voters in West Bengal were casting their ballots in a fearless atmosphere this time, something he said was difficult to imagine over the past six to seven decades.

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Ganga Expressway in Hardoi, Modi said the second phase of polling in Bengal had witnessed a strong turnout, with large numbers of people coming out to vote. He added that visuals of long queues at polling booths were widely circulating on social media, showing public enthusiasm for the democratic process.

The prime minister said the current atmosphere in Bengal reflected a stronger democracy and respect for the Constitution. He thanked the people of the state for being aware of their rights and participating actively in the election.

With voting still underway in 142 constituencies during the second and final phase, Modi urged voters to continue taking part in the democratic exercise with the same energy.

He also referred to recent electoral outcomes, saying the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA had secured a decisive win in the recent Bihar Assembly Elections 2026. He added that local body election results in Gujarat had shown BJP victories in nearly 80 to 85 per cent of municipalities and panchayats.

Modi said the results to be declared on May 4 would further strengthen the goal of a developed India and give fresh momentum to the country’s development journey.

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The first phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 for 152 of the state’s 294 seats was held on April 23. Counting of votes for polls in West Bengal, Kerala, Puducherry, Assam and Tamil Nadu is scheduled for May 4.