West Bengal Liquor Shops Reopen Temporarily Ahead of Assembly Election

Liquor shops were closed for voting (West Bengal Assembly election 2026). Liquor lovers were upset. Nothing seemed good. But after the first phase of voting, all liquor shops are reopening from 11 pm today. It is known that all licensed liquor shops and bars in the state will be open from this day. But this relief is temporary. For the second phase of voting, all liquor shops and bars will be closed again from 6 pm on April 26. The first order was issued on April 19. The excise department had ordered the closure of all liquor shops in the state from April 21 before the first phase of voting. This order was implemented until April 23. There was an uproar in the entire state. Though 16 districts voted in the first phase, the order was issued in the entire state. However, when asked about this, the state's chief electoral officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal said, "I am surprised. Why was that the liquor shop closed in Kolkata, besides asking the commission to extend the closure of bars by 48 days?"