April 23 Holiday in Kolkata 2026: West Bengal Election Phase 1 — Is It a Public Holiday? Explained

West Bengal goes to the polls tomorrow, April 23, for Phase 1 of the 2026 Legislative Assembly elections. But if you are in Kolkata and wondering whether tomorrow is a public holiday for you — the answer, for most people in the city, is no.

Here is everything you need to know.

Kolkata Is Not Closed Tomorrow

Phase 1 polling on April 23 covers 152 assembly constituencies spread across North Bengal, Rarh Bengal, Jangalmahal and districts including Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Malda, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Bankura, Purulia, Paschim Medinipur and Purba Medinipur. The overwhelming majority of Kolkata’s assembly constituencies — Kasba, Jadavpur, Tollygunge, Behala, Ballygunge, Chowringhee, Bhabanipur and most others within the Kolkata Municipal Corporation area — are not voting on April 23. They vote in Phase 2 on April 29.

This means offices, banks, schools, colleges and businesses in central Kolkata are expected to remain open normally on April 23. It is business as usual for most of the city.

How the Holiday Rule Actually Works

The West Bengal government has declared public holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act on polling days — but these holidays apply only in the specific constituencies where polling is actually taking place. Government offices, educational institutions, public sector undertakings, corporations, boards and local bodies in Phase 1 polling constituencies are closed on April 23. If your office, school or institution is not in a Phase 1 constituency, the holiday does not apply to you automatically.

Private offices in non-polling areas are not mandated to declare a holiday on April 23, though many private employers do give paid leave to employees who are registered voters in a constituency that is polling on that day — to ensure they can exercise their franchise. That is a discretionary employer decision, not a legal requirement applicable to all of Kolkata.

The Bigger Holiday for Kolkata Is April 29

For Kolkatans, the more directly relevant election holiday is April 29 — Phase 2 polling day. That is when most Kolkata constituencies go to vote, and that is when the mandatory public holiday provisions will apply across KMC areas and central Kolkata. The dry day and liquor ban for most of Kolkata also begins in its most impactful form around April 29, as we have covered previously — Park Street and the Chowringhee belt face their five-day liquor closure running from April 24 through April 29.

The Dry Day Question for Tomorrow

The dry day liquor ban on April 23 applies in the Phase 1 polling constituencies — which means areas outside central Kolkata that are voting tomorrow will see liquor shops, bars and pubs closed. For most of Kolkata’s entertainment and hospitality belt, the April 23 dry day is not the primary concern — the April 29 dry day and its associated five-day closure for Park Street-area establishments is the more impactful event.

What to Check if You Are Unsure

If you are uncertain whether your specific workplace, school or institution falls within a Phase 1 polling constituency, the quickest way to check is to verify which assembly constituency your address falls under — the Election Commission of India’s voter information portal allows constituency lookup by address. If your constituency is in the Phase 1 list, the holiday applies to eligible government and public sector employees at your location. If it is a Kolkata constituency voting on April 29, tomorrow is a working day.

The bottom line is simple: Kolkata as a whole votes on April 29. Tomorrow’s election holiday largely affects the rest of Bengal. For most Kolkatans, April 23 is a normal Wednesday.