Bengal reported a voter turnout of 80% at close of the 1(B) round of voting, while Assam reported a high voter turnout of 81.96%.
After a voter turnout of 84.22% in West Bengal during the first round of voting (1A) of the 1st phase, Bengal today went to polls in the 2nd round of the 1st phase of voting, covering a total of 31 constituencies of Bankura, West Midnapore and Burdwan.
Assam, which too saw a strong voter turnout in the 1st phase of voting, witnessed another strong response during the 2nd and final round of voting today. The electors voted to choose their representatives for 61 constituencies in this round.
According to the Election Commission panel, the high voter turnout seen in West Bengal and Assam in the first phase of voting was the result of the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP), an initiative of the EC to build awareness, instill confidence and educate voters on the need and importance of exercising their franchise.
Under the SVEEP initiative, voters were informed of special facilities put up like all-women polling stations, creating disabled-friendly polling facilities and establishing model polling stations to ensure a positive, safe and voter-friendly environment. The public contact and awareness programmes launched in Bengal and Assam have apparently borne fruit, given high voter turnouts in both states.
Interestingly, Pradip Bhattacharya of the Congress has approached the EC office questioning the unusually high voter turnout.
West Bengal Assembly Elections 2016 – Round 1B
- Total constituencies: 31
- Total candidates: 163
- Total candidates (Female): 21
- Total voters: 6,990,900
- Total voters (Male): 3,611,427
- Total voters (Female): 3,368,311
- Service voters: 11,112
- Others: 50
- Saltora (SC): 6 candidates
- Chhatna: 10
- Bankura: 6
- Barjora: 6
- Onda: 7
- Bishnupur: 6
- Katulpur (SC): 4
- Indus (SC): 5
- Sonamukhi (SC): 4
- Dantan: 4 candidates
- Keshiary (ST): 6
- Kharagpur Sadar: 6
- Narayangarh: 4
- Sabang: 4
- Pingla: 5
- Kharagpur: 5
- Debra: 4
- Daspur: 4
- Ghatal (SC): 5
- Chandrakona (SC): 5
- Garbeta: 4
- Keshpur (SC): 3
- Pandabeswar: 6
- Durgapur (East): 6
- Durgapur (West): 7
- Raniganj: 5
- Jamuria: 5
- Asansol (South): 5
- Asansol (North): 5
- Kulti: 6
- Barbani: 5
Poll-related violence in Bengal
Despite heavy security deployment across polling districts, there have been reports of clashes between TMC and Left Front supporters. Till 10 AM, five were reportedly injured in clashes between TMC supporters and CPI(M) in Jamuria in Asansol, while other clashes were reported in Burdwan district. CPI(M) polling agents were reportedly attacked in Jamuria. In the morning, two bags containing crude bombs were found in Jamuria Bypass road, while in Sonamukhi area in Bankura district, people were seen openly carrying arms, in a bid to intimidate voters and opposition supporters. This phase saw some colorful contests which included the much awaited contest involving BJP state president Dilip Ghosh who took on 91 -year-old veteran Congress politician Gyan Singh Sohanpal, for the Kharagpur Sadar seat. Leader of the Opposition and CPI (M) leader Surjya Kanta Mishra - MLA from Narayangarh -- Kargil veteran Col Diptanshu Chaudhury from TMC, Bengali film actor Soham Chakraborty - TMC, Congress leader Manas Bhuniya, were among those whose fate was decided today. Assam Assembly Elections 2016 – Second and final round- Total constituencies: 61
- Total candidates: 525
- Total candidates (Female): 48
- Total voters: 10,453,231
- Total voters (Male): 5,391,204
- Total voters (Female): 5,044,051
- Service voters: 17,954
- Others: 22
