West Bengal Elections: Record-Breaking Voter Turnout Shatters Previous Highs

Historic Voter Participation in West Bengal

Kolkata: The second phase of voting for 142 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal, held on April 29, has seen a remarkable turnout of 92.47% by midnight, pushing the overall average for both phases to an impressive 92.85%.

However, officials from the Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) office in West Bengal have indicated that these figures are not yet final, with complete tabulation expected later today.

The turnout for the second phase is slightly lower than the 92.88% recorded by midnight on April 23 during the first phase, which covered 152 Assembly constituencies.

Previously, the highest national polling percentage was noted in Tripura in 2013, where it reached 91.82%.

The average turnout of 92.85% across both phases marks a new record for West Bengal.

Historically, the highest turnout prior to this was during the 2011 Assembly elections, which ended the 34-year rule of the Left Front and ushered in the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress.

In the six-phase 2011 elections, the average turnout was 84.33%, a record that has now been surpassed.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has praised the citizens of West Bengal for their unprecedented participation in both phases of voting, first on April 23 and again on Wednesday.

A statement from the Election Commission of India quoted Kumar, stating, “This is the highest ever percentage of polling in West Bengal in both Phase I & II since Independence. We congratulate every voter on this historic achievement.”

An insider from the CEO's office noted that a significant factor contributing to the high turnout was the updated voters' list, which excluded absent, missing, shifted, and duplicate voters. This ensured a more accurate representation of eligible voters, likening it to 'pure milk' without dilution.