Bengal’s 92.8% turnout is state’s highest ever; second highest among all states/Lok Sabha polls

NEW DELHI: The record-breaking polls in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu of 92.9% and 85.1% respectively have once again vindicated the validity of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise despite persistent doubts raised by some political parties and the unwavering faith of the people in the electoral process, according to Election Commission officials.The overall turnout exceeded the 84.7% and 78.3% recorded in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu respectively in the 2011 Assembly polls. The only state in the history of independent India with an overall turnout higher than West Bengal’s 92.9% – which is not final as another phase of voting is due on April 29 – is Tripura. The northeastern state secured 93.6% support in the 2013 assembly elections. However, Tripura’s turnout was based on a combination of EVM votes and postal votes, while West Bengal’s turnout was calculated based on EVM votes only.Participation rates among female voters were higher than among male voters and the highest ever in either state. In West Bengal, the female voting rate was 92.7%, while the male voting rate was 90.9%; in Tamil Nadu, the female voting rate was 85.7%, while the male voting rate was 83.6%. In the 2011 elections, Bengal had the highest female voting rate at 84.4% and Tamil Nadu at 78.5%.Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Thursday expressed appreciation for the highest-ever poll percentage in the two states, saying, “The Election Commission salutes every voter of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu”.Another Election Commission official said the highest-ever turnout was “a watershed moment” for West Bengal. Compared with the large-scale political violence associated with past elections in the state, only a few minor incidents occurred on Thursday. “Just like poll violence in Bihar is now a thing of the past, the 2026 polls will also bring changes in Bengal,” the functionary said.SIR, an EC initiative piloted by CEC Kumar to clean up the electoral rolls, started in Bihar last year, where the turnout tends to automatically increase given the decline in the total number of voters. “After voters who died, permanently transferred and double-registered voters were removed, even if the number of voters was the same, the turnout rate would be higher. Moreover, these voters went through the process of verifying their votes during the SIR, realized the importance of their votes, and consciously exercised their right to vote,” an Election Commission official told TOI.The Election Commission is strictly checking common electoral frauds in Bengal such as chapa, signal source interference and polling station interference by conducting three-point verification of all persons entering polling stations. Section 163 of the BNSS (corresponding to the erstwhile Section 144 of the IPC) was implemented within 200 meters of polling stations on Thursday. The ID of everyone entering the area will be checked and only bona fide voters, election officials, etc. will be allowed entry. During the second inspection at the polling station, BLO, NCC volunteers and others not only confirmed the identity of the ‘pardanasheen’ women voters but also confirmed the identity of each individual before queuing up to vote. Finally, the polling officer verified the voter’s identity a third time before voting.“No one is preventing voting like anti-social elements supported by certain political parties earlier,” an Election Commission official told TOI.