New Delhi, April 23: The ongoing Assembly elections saw a surge in voter turnout by 3 PM on Thursday, with West Bengal leading at an impressive 78.77%. Tamil Nadu recorded a solid 70.00% turnout, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI). These high turnout figures highlight strong voter engagement in both states, with several districts in West Bengal surpassing 80% well before polling concluded at 6 PM.
In West Bengal, multiple districts reported exceptionally high voter turnout, reflecting a highly engaged electorate. Dakshin Dinajpur topped the list with 81.49%, followed closely by Paschim Medinipur at 81.07%, Jhargram at 81.04%, and Birbhum at 80.22%. Murshidabad also witnessed strong participation with 79.72%, while Darjeeling and Malda recorded slightly lower, but still impressive, turnouts of 76.54% and 76.22%, respectively. This widespread enthusiasm reflects the dynamic participation from both urban and rural regions across the state.
In Tamil Nadu, while trailing West Bengal in overall turnout, several districts showed encouraging numbers. Namakkal led the state with 76.43%, followed closely by Karur at 76.08%, Salem at 75.79%, Erode at 75.61%, and Tiruppur at 75.38%. Other districts, including Dharmapuri (74.68%), Dindigul (74.35%), Kancheepuram (72.51%), Coimbatore (71.16%), Kallakurichi (71.11%), and Tiruchirappalli (71.05%), also saw steady voter turnout, contributing to the overall strong participation in the state.
Meanwhile, by-elections in other states had more moderate turnout figures. In Gujarat, the Umreth constituency recorded 46.66%, while in Maharashtra, Rahuri saw a turnout of 39.60%, with Baramati slightly higher at 40.36%.
By 1 PM, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal had already recorded significant turnout figures, with Tamil Nadu at 62.18% and West Bengal at 56.81%, according to the ECI. Voting for the 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu and 152 constituencies in West Bengal commenced amid tight security this morning. Polling will conclude at 6 PM today, while the remaining constituencies in West Bengal will vote on May 29, with the counting of votes scheduled for May 4.
