West Bengal polls above 90%, TN sees record turnout

Record polling in West Bengal underscores charged atmosphere with both PM Modi and the CM Mamata making claims of mandate

In a massive show of strength by the electorate of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal on Thursday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) recorded a voter turnout of around 85 per cent in the single-phase Assembly poll in the southern State, while surpassed 90 per cent mark in the first phase in West Bengal, where voter turnout is among the highest in recent electoral history of the State.

“West Bengal records 91.78 pc voting so far in phase 1 of Assembly polls, highest-ever percentage since Independence,” said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Previously, the highest poll participation in Tamil Nadu was 78.29% (2011) and in West Bengal was 84.72% (2011), respectively. In both West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, women’s participation in voting exceeds that of men.

The second phase of polling in West Bengal will be held on April 29. Counting of votes will take place on May 4, along with States — Assam, Kerala, Puducherry- which went to polls this month.

West Bengal Assembly polls are being held under the shadow of large-scale name deletions under the SIR exercise. Compared with the 2021 Assembly elections, when turnout ranged between 79 and 86 per cent across phases, the current figures mark a sharp spike in voter turnout in West Bengal, though the SIR-linked contraction of the electorate complicates direct comparisons.

In 2021, the BJP won 59 of these 152 seats against the TMC’s 93.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the people of West Bengal for their massive turnout in the first phase and called the voting figures so far indicative of an “overwhelming mandate for change” as the BJP, through its high intensity, looks forward to wrest power from the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC in the State.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed, “From my understanding of people’s mind, we are already in a position to win given the polling held so far today.”

Tamil Nadu surpassed its highest Assembly polls turnout when over 84 per cent of the 5.73 crore voters cast their vote for the single-phase elections to 234 constituencies across the State. Incidentally, through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the electorate size has been reduced from 6.41 crore recorded in October 2025 to the current 5.73 crore. Consequently, the 2021 polls saw about 6.29 crore people registered, 56 lakh voters more than this year.

Key contenders in Tamil Nadu are the ruling DMK and main opposition AIADMK, while actor-politician Vijay-led TVK and Tamil nationalist Seeman-led NTK are putting up a determined fight.

Attributing the surge in voter turnout in Tamil Nadu to the Election Commission’s reforms, BJP leader Narayanan Thirupathy said the high polling percentage across the state reflects a robust democratic spirit and signals a confident path to victory for the NDA.

Demanding an apology from Gandhi and Stalin for “this downright insult” to the Prime Minister, the Union Minister said the Congress and DMK have humiliated 140 crore Indians, including our 8 crore Tamil brothers and sisters, with this statement.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal slammed Kharge’s remark on PM Modi and demanded an apology from him. “We feel ashamed that Congress has come down to such a level. They called a democratically-elected Prime Minister a terrorist. He has been elected by the people. I strongly condemn Kharge’s statement and demand an apology from him for insulting him and the people of our country,” Goyal, who is the Assembly elections incharge of Tamil Nadu, said.

“This unholy alliance is effectively calling Indians terrorists by targeting the Prime Minister. Such personal attacks against the PM won’t reverse their electoral fate that has already been sealed by the anger of the people who have suffered their misrule,” he added.

BJP IT chief Amit Malviya also took to social media and posted a series of comments to attack the Congress, while BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said the words Kharge chose for the Prime Minister are not only condemnable but also reflect the mindset of the Congress party. Kharge called him a terrorist.”