‘Highest ever since independence’: Gyanesh Kumar lauds record turnout in Bengal and Tamil Nadu

While West Bengal, which saw polls for 152 Assembly seats in the first phase, has recorded a whopping 91.91 per cent voter turnout so far, Tamil Nadu was also not far behind with 84.80 per cent votes, according to the latest Election Commission of India (ECI) data.

“The highest ever polling percentage in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu since independence. The Election Commission of India salutes every voter in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu,” Gyanesh Kumar said after the polls closed.

The high turnout figures are generally seen as an active electoral exercise as polling draws to a close amid tight security arrangements across constituencies.

Several districts in West Bengal recorded a voter turnout exceeding 90 percent. Dakshin Dinajpur led with 94.85 per cent, followed by Cooch Behar with 94.54 per cent, Birbhum with 93.70 per cent, Jalpaiguri with 93.23 per cent and Murshidabad with 92.93 per cent. The numbers show consistently high voter participation across the state, with turnout in all major areas comfortably above 90 percent.

Tamil Nadu also recorded a strong turnout in all major districts, with Karur leading with 92.48 per cent, followed by Salem with 90.42 per cent, Dharmapuri with 90.02 per cent, Erode with 89.97 per cent and Namakkal with 89.63 per cent.

Polling began in 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu and 152 constituencies in West Bengal amid tight security measures on Thursday. Polling in the remaining 142 constituencies in West Bengal is scheduled to take place on May 29, with the votes to be counted on May 4.