Voter Turnout By Midnight: West Bengal At 92.47% In Phase 2

Voter participation in the Assembly elections in West Bengal has reached record levels, with the second phase polling for 142 constituencies on 29 April registering 92.47 per cent turnout by midnight.

Officials from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer noted on Thursday that the figures are provisional and subject to final verification later in the day.

The turnout in the second phase was slightly below the 92.88 per cent recorded in the first phase held on 23 April across 152 constituencies. Taken together, the average turnout for both phases stands at 92.85 per cent, the highest ever recorded in the state.

The new figures also surpass the previous national benchmark set in Tripura during the 2013 Assembly elections, when voter turnout reached 91.82 per cent.

Within West Bengal, the earlier record dated back to the 2011 Assembly elections, which saw an average turnout of 84.33 per cent. That election marked a significant political shift, bringing Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress to power after decades of Left Front rule.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar praised voters for the strong participation, describing it as a historic achievement since Independence.

The Election Commission also issued a statement commending citizens for their engagement in both phases of polling.

According to officials, one factor contributing to the high turnout was the refinement of electoral rolls, with the removal of duplicate, shifted, and inactive entries. This process, they said, helped ensure a more accurate voter list and improved participation rates.

Detailed tabulation will determine the final turnout figures.

Also Read: Voter Turnout At 05:00 PM: West Bengal At 89.99% In Phase 2