Record voter turnout; Tamil Nadu records 85% turnout, 92.07% in Bengal

CHENNAI/KOLKATA: Record-breaking voter turnout was witnessed in both Tamil Nadu and West Bengal during the recent assembly elections. Tamil Nadu recorded a massive 85% turnout for its 234-member assembly, while the first phase of polling across 152 constituencies in West Bengal saw an even higher turnout of 92.07%. These figures represent the highest polling percentages in the history of both states.

The previous records were set in 2011, when Tamil Nadu saw 78.29% and West Bengal recorded 84.72% polling. In that year, Jayalalithaa's AIADMK swept to power in Tamil Nadu with 203 seats, while the Trinamool Congress (TMC) came to power for the first time in Bengal.

Polling in Tamil Nadu remained largely peaceful. In Tirupathur, a TVK worker was arrested for filming his vote and sharing it on social media. Interestingly, the Karur district, which recently faced a tragedy where 41 people died during TVK founder Vijay's rally, recorded the highest polling at 92.62%. Other high-turnout districts included Namakkal (87.63%), Erode (87.59%), Dharmapuri (87.28%), Dindigul (86.35%), and Tiruppur (86.33%).

Major cities also saw significant participation:

Chennai: 81.34% Madurai: 77.89% Coimbatore: 82.33% Salem: 88.02% Tiruchirappalli: 82.76%

In contrast to Tamil Nadu, widespread violence was reported across West Bengal. In Murshidabad, workers from Humayun Kabir’s Am Janata Unnayan Party clashed with Trinamool Congress supporters. Violence also broke out in several areas over malfunctioning voting machines. In Asansol South, the car of BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul was vandalised. Clashes were also reported in Purulia between TMC workers and central security forces. Tragically, three voters lost their lives due to the extreme heat during the polling process.