Bengal Polls See Strong Start with Over 62% Voter Turnout in First Six Hours

Kolkata — The first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections witnessed a robust voter turnout, with polling reaching 62.18 per cent in the first six hours till 1 p.m. on Thursday.

According to data from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal, this figure is significantly higher than the voting percentages recorded during the same time frame in all seven phases of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the state.

For comparison, polling till 1 p.m. during the 2024 general elections ranged between 45.1 per cent and 54.8 per cent across phases, with an average of just 49.6 per cent — notably lower than this year’s opening phase.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a rally in Krishnanagar earlier in the day, welcomed the high turnout and suggested that voting records could be surpassed this time. He praised the enthusiasm shown by voters across constituencies.

At the constituency level, Samserganj in Murshidabad district recorded the highest turnout at 71.07 per cent by 1 p.m., while Jhargram district led in overall polling with 65.31 per cent.

However, the polling process was not without incidents. Reports of election-related violence increased between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., compared to the relatively calmer early hours.

In one such incident, the vehicle of BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul from the Asansol (Dakshin) constituency was allegedly vandalised by supporters of the Trinamool Congress. The rear glass of her vehicle was shattered, and she later lodged a complaint with the local police.

Tragically, two voters lost their lives due to suspected heatstroke during the day. One of them, identified as Asim Roy, collapsed while on his way to a polling booth in Suri, Birbhum district.

Despite isolated disruptions, the high voter participation reflects strong public engagement in the electoral process during the crucial opening phase.

With inputs from IANS