Record Voter Turnout in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu Elections

The recent elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu have set new records for voter turnout, with West Bengal achieving nearly 92% and Tamil Nadu over 85%. Despite some incidents of violence in West Bengal, the overall voting process remained peaceful. Women voters outperformed men in participation, and political leaders have reacted positively to the high engagement levels. The counting of votes is set for May 4, making this election cycle particularly noteworthy given the significant number of names removed from the voter list. Discover more about the implications of these elections and the reactions from key political figures.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 24, 2026, 07:20 IST

High Voter Turnout in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu

In the first phase of elections in West Bengal, an impressive voter turnout of nearly 92% was recorded across 152 seats, while Tamil Nadu saw over 85% participation across all 234 constituencies. This marks the highest voting percentage in both states since independence. Election officials reported that the voting process was largely peaceful.

Incidents of Violence in West Bengal

Despite the high turnout, there were isolated incidents of violence in West Bengal, particularly in districts such as Murshidabad, South Dinajpur, Asansol, and Cooch Behar. Fortunately, no major incidents or serious injuries were reported.

Voting Statistics in Tamil Nadu

Out of 5.73 crore eligible voters in Tamil Nadu, approximately 4.88 crore cast their votes. The highest turnout was recorded in the Virapandi assembly constituency at 93.41%, while the lowest was in Palayamkottai at 68.97%.

Voting Statistics in West Bengal

In West Bengal, around 3.32 crore voters participated out of 3.6 crore registered voters. The highest turnout was in Murarai at 96.95%, whereas Mekhliganj recorded the lowest at 82.12%.

Women Voters Outnumber Men

In both states, female voters demonstrated greater enthusiasm compared to their male counterparts. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar remarked that the recorded turnout is the highest since independence, commending every voter for their participation.

Reactions from Leaders on High Turnout

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a rally in Nadia district, stated that the high voter turnout indicates a desire for change, suggesting a certain victory for the BJP. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee noted in Kolkata that despite names being removed from the voter list, the significant turnout reflects the people's fight to preserve democracy. The Trinamool Congress has already claimed victory. In Tamil Nadu, the main contest is between the ruling DMK alliance and the AIADMK-BJP coalition, with actor Vijay's party TVK aiming to emerge as a third force.

Election Overview

According to the Election Commission, there were some complaints during the voting process in both states, but overall, the election proceeded smoothly. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4. This record turnout is particularly noteworthy as approximately 11.6% of names were removed from the voter list in the Special Intensive Report (SIR), yet the voting percentage exceeded that of previous elections.