Bengal Sees 78.68% Voter Turnout Till 3:30 PM in Second Phase of Polling

West Bengal recorded a voter turnout of 78.68% till 3:30 PM on Wednesday amid the ongoing second phase of polling for the assembly elections.

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), Purba Bardhaman district topped the charts with the highest voter turnout of 83.11% so far, with Hooghly following with 80.77% turnout.

Nadia district recorded a turnout of 79.79%, while Kolkata North and South recorded 78% and 75.38% voter turnout, respectively, during the same period.

Additionally, South 24 Parganas also saw massive participation of people with 76.75% voter turnout.

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Mamata Thakur on Wednesday cast her vote at a polling booth in Thakurnagar of North 24 Parganas, while saying that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with the Election Commission of India, is doing "tandav" as polling for the second phase continues across the state.

What did TMC MP Mamata Thakur allege about money distribution in Bagda constituency?

Speaking to reporters after polling, the Rajya Sabha MP alleged that money was distributed in the Bagda constituency.

"Last night, I got a call over a complaint against me from the Election Commission that I was distributing money in the Bagda constituency,” the TMC MP said.

Union Minister of State (MoS) and Bangaon Lok Sabha MP Shantanu Thakur also cast his vote on Wednesday at booth number 43 in Thakurnagar of North 24 Parganas district.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Locket Chatterjee expressed strong confidence in the party's performance in the ongoing elections, stating that the high voter turnout indicates a shift in the state's political landscape.

Speaking to ANI, Chatterjee said, "I have heard that 85% of the voting has been completed. Very few people are left. The process is going on very peacefully,” Chatterjee said

“I think there will be more voting than in the first phase, Everyone should exercise their right. BJP is forming the government," she added.

Taking a direct swipe at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), Chatterjee said, "Bengal is slipping from Mamata Banerjee's hands," she said.

(With inputs from ANI)