West Bengal Assembly Elections: Record-Breaking Turnout in First Phase, Parties Assess Performance

In the first phase of West Bengal Assembly elections, the fate of 1478 candidates has been sealed in the EVMs. In the first phase, the enthusiasm of the voters was visible and all the voting records have been broken. This is the first time since independence that Bengal has voted more than 90 percent. Political parties are assessing their profit and loss. In the first phase, 152 seats in Bengal voted 92.88 percent. If this pattern continues in the second phase, it will be the highest voting turnout ever in West Bengal. However, in 2021, the Bengal Assembly elections were held in 8 phases. In the 2021 Assembly elections, these 152 seats voted 83.2 percent, while in the 2026 Assembly elections 92.88 percent. In this regard, there has been 10 percent more voting. In such a voting pattern, it is said that the increased voting from the last election has increased the pulse of the political parties. In such a situation, the question is whether 10 percent more voters or Mamata Banerjee will vote in West Bengal.