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CEC Gyanesh Kumar Praises Record Voter Turnout in Bengal, Tamil Nadu

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar praised voters in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu for record turnout in the first phase of Assembly elections. West Bengal recorded 89.93% polling, the highest since 2011, while Tamil Nadu saw 82.24% turnout. The polling process was the most peaceful since 2011, with results to be declared on May 4. The second phase in West Bengal is scheduled for April 29.

Key Points: CEC Hails Record Voter Turnout in Bengal, Tamil Nadu

  • West Bengal records 89.93% polling, highest since 2011
  • Tamil Nadu sees 82.24% turnout, better than 74% in 2021
  • CEC Gyanesh Kumar hails voters for record turnout
  • Second phase in Bengal on April 29, results on May 4
  • Polling most peaceful since 2011 elections
2 min read

CEC Gyanesh Kumar hails Bengal, Tamil Nadu voters for record turnout

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar salutes voters in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu for record turnout, with polling percentages breaching previous records.

"Highest ever percentage of polling in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu since Independence - ECI salutes each voter - CEC Gyanesh Kumar"

New Delhi, April 23

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Thursday hailed voters of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu for registering record turnout in the Assembly elections.

"Highest ever percentage of polling in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu since Independence - ECI salutes each voter of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu," said CEC Gyanesh Kumar in a message, even as the final turnout figures were being collated by officials in both states.

For the first phase of voting in 152 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal, the ECI confirmed 89.93 per cent polling till 5 p.m. - breaching the 2021 elections figure of 82 per cent.

Till 5 p.m. in Tamil Nadu, the voting percentage stood at 82.24 per cent, better than 74 per cent recorded in the 2021 elections.

The 16 districts in West Bengal where polling was held in the first phase on Thursday are Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, and Malda in North Bengal, and Murshidabad, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura, West Burdwan, and Birbhum in South Bengal.​

The second phase of polls in West Bengal for the remaining 142 Assembly constituencies will be held on April 29. ​​The results of the polls will be declared on May 4.

Barring some stray events of tension and clashes, the polling process was the most peaceful and violence-free after the 2011 Assembly polls in West Bengal.

In West Bengal, the polling percentage recorded till 5 p.m. on Thursday was 89.93, the record percentage in the last 15 years since 2011, the year which marked the end of the previous 34-year Left Front government and the beginning of the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government in the state.

In the six-phase 2011 West Bengal Assembly polls, the average polling percentage was the highest in the last 15 years at 84.33 per cent. In the last seven-phase Lok Sabha election in 2024 in West Bengal, the average polling percentage was 79.8.

However, all those polling records were broken this time.

An insider from the CEO's office said that once the final polling percentage on Thursday is available, the figure will likely cross 90 per cent.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Impressive numbers, but let's not forget that high turnout doesn't always mean free and fair elections. In Bengal, there have been reports of intimidation and booth capturing in some areas. The ECI should ensure transparency before celebrating.
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Priya S
As a Tamilian living in Chennai, I'm so proud of our state! 82% turnout is amazing. People queued up from early morning despite the heat. Shows that democracy is alive and kicking in the South. Let's hope this trend continues in future elections! ✨
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Rohit P
The CEC is right to applaud these states. But let's not ignore the elephant in the room - the violence in West Bengal during campaigning. The fact that polling was "most peaceful since 2011" is a low bar. We need zero tolerance for any electoral violence.
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Kavya N
My family in Cooch Behar told me there were long queues but everything was orderly. It's heartening to see people, especially women and elderly, coming out to vote despite challenges. This is the true spirit of democracy. 👏

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