Kolkata, Apr 30:
The West Bengal assembly polls ended on Wednesday with what the election watchdog said was the state’s highest-ever voter turnout of 92.47 per cent, leading to mouth-watering anticipation ahead of the announcement of results on Monday as both contenders sounded sanguine about their victory prospects.
Wednesday’s second phase saw a 91.66 per cent turnout by closing time, with thousands of voters still waiting in queues to cast their ballots. The concluding phase covering 142 constituencies in south Bengal appears poised to match the first phase’s record voter participation of 93.19 per cent by the time final numbers are collated.
The Election Commission said a 91.66 per cent turnout was recorded in the second phase till 7.45 pm, putting the combined poll percentage over the two-phases at 92.47 per cent. The first phase of polling was held on April 23.
“This is the highest-ever recorded poll participation since Independence in West Bengal,” it said.