West Bengal begins voting Thursday for 152 of its 294 Assembly seats, launching a fierce contest where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress fights to retain power and the BJP aims to seize control. The majority threshold sits at 148 seats, with TMC holding 215 and BJP 77 after the 2021 polls. This first phase sets the tone for a battle defined by anti-incumbency pressures, welfare promises, and economic grievances.