West Bengal records 79.09 pc voter turnout in Phase-VI Assembly polls

In Phase VI, there were over 1.03 crore voters, including 50.65 lakh women and 256 of the third gender

The sixth phase of West Bengal assembly polls was held peacefully with an estimated voter turnout of 79.09 percent till 5 pm on Thursday, according to the Election Commission.

Voting began at 7 am on Thursday amid tight security and concluded at 6 pm. Voting held in 14,480 Polling Stations spread across 43 assembly constituencies. Among the 43 constituencies, nine are in Uttar Dinajpur, eight in Purba Bardhaman, nine in Nadia, and 17 are in the North 24 Parganas district.

Among the four districts, Nadia recorded the highest voter turnout of 82.70 percent till 6 pm. Constituency-wise, Tehatta in the Nadia district recorded the highest voter turnout of 84.84 percent followed by Chapra with 84.71 percent. Barrackpore constituency in North24 Parganas witnessed the lowest voter turnout with 67 percent.

As many as 306 candidates, including 27 women, were in the fray in this phase of the assembly elections.

In Phase VI, there were over 1.03 crore voters, including 50.65 lakh women and 256 of the third gender. The total number of PwD electors and electors over 80 years of age are 64,266 and 1,57,290 respectively. A total of 14,480 Ballot Units (BUs), 14,480 Control Units (CUs), and 14,480 VVPATs were used in this phase of polling.

7,466 out of 14,480 polling stations were monitored live through webcasting. Drones were also employed to keep watch over polling proceedings.

TMC and BJP contested in all 43 seats. Congress, the Left parties, and the Indian Secular Front have made a coalition and are contesting under the banner of Samyukta Morcha. Out of the 43 seats in this round, Congress got 12 in its share, CPI(M) got 23, All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) got four and CPI got two seats. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has also tried its luck and fielded 37 candidates.