New Delhi: The Election Commission It was announced on Sunday that assembly elections in West Bengal will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29 – unlike the eight-phase voting held in 2021.Announcing the election schedule for 4 states and one Union Territory, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said it was found necessary to reduce the phases to make elections convenient for all.“With regard to conducting elections in West Bengal in two phases instead of the earlier eight phases, the Commission has held detailed deliberations and in its considered opinion, found it necessary to reduce the number of phases and reduce it to the extent where it is convenient for all,” Kumar said.The Chief Election Commissioner also addressed concerns over electoral violence and said that necessary action would be taken on police proposals that were found to be involved in earlier elections.“In respect of those police officers who were involved in violence in the earlier elections, the list has been sought, as revealed to the media during our visit to West Bengal, and necessary action will be taken as per law. With regard to the supplementary list, as per the orders of the Supreme Court, the learned judge working under the directions of the Calcutta High Court will bring out this supplementary list and as and when the supplementary list of names comes out, they will be included in addition to the existing voters.”The Election Commission on Sunday announced election dates for four poll-bound states – Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal – and the union territory of Puducherry. Track all the updates on the Election Commission press conference here.The counting of votes for the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026 will take place on May 4 along with Assam, Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu.Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party and TMC praised the Election Commission’s decision to conduct elections in West Bengal in two phases.In a post on Twitter, BJP West Bengal said voters will cast their vote in two phases on April 23 and April 29.It said, “This is not just an election, this is a civilizational battle. The countdown to the end of the Maha Jungle Raj has begun.”Referring to the counting date of May 4, the BJP said, “Fifty days are left – May 4 will be a new dawn for Bengal.”Reacting to the election announcement, TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said that the people of the state stand firmly with the ruling party.“The people of Bengal are with TMC. This is again shown in the huge presence of youth in Yuva Sathi camps Mamata Banerjee Government,” he said.In the 2021 Bengal elections, Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress secured 215 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party became the official opposition with 77 seats.