The Election Commission's revised polling data released on Friday reveals that West Bengal's first-phase voter turnout has not only shattered previous percentage records but also increased in absolute numbers compared to the 2021 figure, despite a reduction in the total electorate due to the Special Summary Revision (SIR) process.
Record Surge in Absolute Votes
Nearly 24 lakh more people voted across 152 constituencies spanning 16 districts on Thursday than in the 2021 assembly elections for the same seats. Over 3.35 crore voters exercised their franchise this time, compared to 3.11 crore in 2021. This surge occurred even though the voter count dropped by 18 lakh in these constituencies—from 3.78 crore in 2021 to 3.6 crore after SIR.
District-Wise Performance
Updated EC figures show that 14 of the 16 districts recorded over 90% polling, with only Kalimpong and Darjeeling falling short. Cooch Behar topped the list at 96%, followed closely by South Dinajpur (95.4%), Jalpaiguri (94.6%), Birbhum (94.5%), and Malda (94.4%). Murshidabad, where SIR reduced the voter count by over 7 lakh, still recorded a high 93.6% turnout.
Most of these districts have a large number of voters employed in blue-collar jobs in other states. Conversations with voters indicate that the record-breaking turnout was largely driven by these workers returning home—often spending thousands of rupees on travel and losing daily wages—to cast their ballots. Many expressed fears that not voting during a cycle dominated by SIR could lead to their names being removed from the electoral rolls.
Constituency Highlights
Cooch Behar's Sitalkuchi, which witnessed four deaths in CISF firing during the 2021 polls, recorded the highest constituency turnout at 97.5%. Shamsherganj in Murshidabad, which saw 91,712 names deleted during SIR—the highest in Bengal—recorded 96.1% polling.
West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal explained on Thursday that the exclusion of non-existent voters (absent, shifted, dead, or duplicate) reduced the overall electorate, contributing to a higher polling percentage. However, Friday's EC figures show a voter surge even in absolute terms.
All nine assembly constituencies in Cooch Behar clocked over 94% polling, while five of the six in South Dinajpur recorded over 95% turnout, with Kushmandi topping at 96.5%. Chanchal led Malda with a 95.5% turnout.
