West Bengal polls: 2nd phase voter turnout hits 92.47%, two-phase average at record 92.85%
The second phase of West Bengal Assembly elections, held on 29 April across 142 constituencies, recorded a voter turnout of 92.47% till midnight, pushing the two-phase combined average to a record 92.85%, according to figures from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal. Officials, however, clarified that these numbers are not yet final, with tabulation expected later in the day.
Where the Numbers Stand
The second-phase figure of 92.47% is marginally lower than the 92.88% recorded till midnight of 23 April, when the first phase of polling covered 152 Assembly constituencies. Despite the slight dip, the combined two-phase average of 92.85% sets a new benchmark — not just for West Bengal, but nationally.
The previous national record for the highest polling percentage was held by Tripura, which logged 91.82% in its 2013 Assembly elections. That figure has now been surpassed by West Bengal's performance across both phases.
A Historic Milestone for West Bengal
Within the state, the previous high was set during the 2011 West Bengal Assembly elections — a politically landmark year that marked the end of the 34-year Left Front rule and the rise of the Mamata Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) government. The six-phase 2011 polls had recorded an average turnout of 84.33%, then described as the highest in 15 years. That record has now been comprehensively broken.
What the Election Commission Said
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has congratulated the people of West Bengal for participating in record numbers across both phases. The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a formal statement quoting Kumar:
