High Voter Turnout in West Bengal, Steady Participation in Tamil Nadu as Polling Continues

Kolkata/Chennai, April 2026 : Voting in the Assembly elections witnessed strong public participation in West Bengal and steady turnout in Tamil Nadu on Thursday, with the Election Commission reporting 78.77 per cent polling in West Bengal and 70 per cent in Tamil Nadu as of 3 p.m.

Polling in West Bengal began at 7 a.m. for 152 Assembly constituencies spread across 16 districts in the first phase of the two-phase elections. The response from voters has been notably enthusiastic, with long queues observed outside polling stations since early morning, indicating high engagement in the democratic process.

The districts going to polls in this phase include Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, and Malda in North Bengal, along with Murshidabad, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura, West Burdwan, and Birbhum in South Bengal. The second phase of polling, covering the remaining 142 constituencies, is scheduled for April 29.

The Election Commission of India said that a total of 635 complaints had been registered till 11 a.m. regarding the polling process in West Bengal. Of these, 260 complaints were submitted physically to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, while 375 were filed through the C-Vigil mobile application. Authorities are monitoring these complaints to ensure transparency and smooth conduct of the elections.

Meanwhile, polling is also underway across all 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu, where over 5.73 crore voters are eligible to cast their ballots. The election has drawn 4,023 candidates, making it one of the most competitive contests in recent years.

The political contest in Tamil Nadu primarily involves the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led Secular Progressive Alliance, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led National Democratic Alliance, the Naam Tamilar Katchi, and the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. The presence of multiple strong contenders has turned the election into a closely watched four-cornered battle.

Voting in Tamil Nadu also commenced at 7 a.m., with voters turning out in large numbers at polling booths across urban and rural areas. The steady turnout reflects a keen interest among citizens in shaping the state’s political future.

With polling trends indicating active voter participation in both states, political parties are closely tracking turnout patterns, which are expected to play a crucial role in determining the final outcome.

The counting of votes for both West Bengal and Tamil Nadu Assembly elections is scheduled for May 4, when the results will reveal which parties secure the mandate to form the next governments.