New Delhi/Kolkata, Apr 23: West Bengal with 91.78 per cent and Tamil Nadu with 84.69 per cent recorded their highest-ever voter turnout in Assembly polls since Independence on Thursday.
While the polls were conducted in a single phase in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal will see two-phase polling, with the second phase to be held on April 29.
On April 9, Assam and Puducherry surpassed their highest-ever poll participation by recording a voter turnout of 85.38 per cent and 89.83 per cent respectively.
According to the Election Commission (EC), previously, the highest poll participation in Tamil Nadu was 78.29 per cent (2011 Assembly polls) and 84.72 per cent in West Bengal (2011).
In both states, women voters came out in larger numbers than men to exercise their franchise.
In Tamil Nadu, the women participation was recorded at 85.76 per cent as compared to 83.57 per cent for men.
In West Bengal, 92.69 per cent of women voters turned up at the polling stations, compared to 90.92 per cent men.
Tamil Nadu, where all the 234 seats went to polls on Thursday, has 5.73 crore voters, whereas in the 152 seats of West Bengal where polling was held on Thursday, the voter base is 3.6 crore.
Both the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed the high turnout in Bengal was a confirmation that they would win the election.
While voting was mostly peaceful, there were instances of sporadic violence reported in the state.
In Birbhum’s Kharisaol, allegations that votes cast for the TMC were being registered in favour of the BJP triggered protests, a temporary halt in polling and clashes between locals and security personnel. Eyewitnesses said the situation escalated after an argument with polling officials, with stone pelting reported and paramilitary forces resorting to mild force to restore order.
Earlier in the day, BJP candidate Suvendu Sarkar was allegedly manhandled in Dakshin Dinajpur’s Kumarganj, while BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul’s car was attacked near Rahmat Nagar in Asansol Dakshin, with stones shattering its rear window, incidents cited by the party as evidence of “targeted violence”.
In Naoda, stones were allegedly hurled at the convoy of AJUP leader Humayun Kabir, leading to clashes between rival supporters and a baton charge by central forces. Further incidents of violence and intimidation were reported from Labhpur, Chanchal and Murarai, where clashes between party workers left several people injured.
In Domkal, allegations surfaced that voters were prevented from reaching polling booths, necessitating a security escort.
The Election Commission, while maintaining that polling was “largely peaceful”, acknowledged receiving around 500 complaints by noon and hundreds more through the cVIGIL app. The TMC alone claimed to have lodged over 700 complaints by mid-afternoon, many relating to alleged EVM malfunction and the conduct of central forces.
The counting of votes for all the five assemblies – West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala and Assam – will be taken up on May 4. (PTI)
