Assembly elections: High voter turnout in West Bengal, Assam

West Bengal and Assam recorded, according to latest figures, 81 per cent and 78.48 per cent voter turnout respectively on Monday in the first phase of the Assembly elections, which the Election Commission said was “by and large peaceful”, with no reports of violence-related death or injury. While it was confirmed that Assam crossed last Assembly election’s mark of voter turnout, West Bengal was also expected to exceed the votes cast in 2011.

“Till 10 pm, Assam had recorded voter turnout of 78.48 per cent and West Bengal about 81 per cent. Eighty-three per cent and 81 per cent people voted in Bankura and Purulia seats respectively as per the latest numbers,” a senior Election Commission official said, adding, “With queues of voters present outside the polling stations even after 5 pm, the figures are continuously going up.”

Earlier, deputy election commissioner Sandeep Saxena had informed the media that till 5 pm, the voter turnout was 80 per cent and 70 per cent in West Bengal and Assam respectively.

In the 2011 Assembly polls, the voter turnout in West Bengal was 83.72 per cent and 75 per cent in Assam.

In the Lok Sabha polls in 2014, the figures in these constituencies were 83.39 per cent in West Bengal and 79 in Assam, he said. In Assam, 65 of the state’s total 126 constituencies went to poll on Monday while in West Bengal, 18 out of 294 constituencies went to polls in part one of phase one. Part two of phase one will be held on April 11.

Mr Saxena said no deaths or injuries in poll-related violence were reported in the two states. Responding to questions, he said a total of 16 complaints related to rigging, denial of vote and late start of election were received.

In Assam, 5.27 crore illegal cash was seized so far in the constituencies which went to polls in the first phase. In West Bengal, the figure stood at 17.36 lakh.