Voting remained brisk in the second phase of the Assembly elections, with turnout trends mirroring the strong participation seen in the opening phase of polling.

This record voter turnout was aided by severe monitoring by central forces.

Turnout Reaches 79% In First Eight Hours

By the first eight hours of polling, voter turnout in the second phase had reached 79 per cent. In comparison, the seven districts voting in 2021 had recorded 81 per cent turnout.

The overall voter turnout in the 2021 Assembly elections stood at 82 per cent.

Polling In First Six Hours Up 10% From 2021

Voting in the first six hours was significantly higher than during the corresponding period in the 2021 Assembly elections.

While 51 per cent of voters had cast their ballots in the first six hours in 2021, the figure rose to 61 per cent this time—an increase of 10 percentage points.

Kolkata Records 20% Higher Voting Than Last Election

Kolkata witnessed a particularly sharp rise in voter participation, with polling in the first six hours running 20 percentage points higher than in 2021.

District-Wise Voting Till 1 PM

Polling percentages across districts till 1 pm were as follows:

• Kolkata North: 60% voting (40% in 2021)
• Kolkata South: 58% voting (40% in 2021)
• South 24 Parganas: 59% voting (48% in 2021)
• North 24 Parganas: 59% voting (52% in 2021)
• East Burdwan: 67% voting (59% in 2021)
• Hooghly: 65% voting (58% in 2021)
• Howrah: 61% voting (54% in 2021)

Central Forces Intensify Oversight Across Polling Areas

Central forces remained deployed across districts to oversee polling and ensure free and fair elections.

DG, CRPF GP Singh supervised operations in Diamond Harbour, South 24 Parganas, and held a meeting with IPS officer and Special Police Observer Ajay Pal Sharma, who arrived from Uttar Pradesh.

DG, BSF Praveen Kumar also visited Noapara after travelling to North 24 Parganas, where he reviewed the deployment and preparedness of central forces.