7 per cent increase in Bengal poll tournout

Kolkata, May 9 (UNI) About 82 per cent of the total 48.6 million electorate in West Bengal cast their votes in the five-phase assembly elections recording a significance increase from that in 2001 and the last Lok Sabha polls.

As a very high turn out was the hallmark of this elections in every phase that the state recorded an overall 81.62 per cent polling as aginst 75 per cent in the last assembly elections and 78 per cent in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls.

Chief Electoral Officer Debashis Sen today said 82.9 per cent voter exercised their francise in the fifth and final round of polling held in six North Bengal districts yesterday.

In all 3027 out of the total 9089 booths recorded more than 88 per cent polling. However, the Election Commission did not order repolling in any of these booths after scrutinising the relvent documents as per its standning norms.

As in the previous phases, polling continued even beyond 1700 hrs yesterday with large number of people waiting in long queues in front of many booths.

In the first four phases of polling held on April 17, 22, 27 and May 3, the voters' turn out varied between 78 per cent and 82 per cent.

Kolkata and its two adjoining districts which went to polls in the third phase with witnessed the lowest percentage of polling at 78 per cent while 81 to 82 per cent polling were recorded in all other districts.

UNI KDG PC SS2112