82 per cent turnout for Bengal polls

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 2001.

As a very high turn out was the hallmark of this elections in every phase, 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 Debashish Sen today said 82.9 per cent voters 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 relevant documents as per its standing 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 to cost their ballot.

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, witnessed the lowest percentage of polling at 78 per cent while 81 to 82 per cent polling were recorded in all other districts.

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