The voter turnout in the first phase of polling in West Bengal was recorded at 18.76 per cent, while Tamil Nadu reported a turnout of 17.69 per cent as of 9 am on Thursday, according to data released by the Election Commission of India.
In Tamil Nadu, Tiruppur district recorded the highest turnout at 20.38 per cent, followed by Erode at 19.55 per cent, while Chennai registered 16.51 per cent.
In West Bengal, Paschim Midnapore recorded the highest turnout at 20.51 per cent, followed by Bankura at 20.20 per cent and Jhargram at 19.84 per cent.
Polling for the Assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu and across 152 constituencies in West Bengal amid tight security on Thursday. Voting will continue until 6:00 pm, while the counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
Several prominent leaders and public figures cast their votes in the morning, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, TVK chief Vijay, DMK minister K.N. Nehru, and actors Rajinikanth and Dhruv Vikram.
Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik said the state has an electorate of over 5.73 crore voters, including 2,93,04,905 women, 2,80,30,658 men, and 7,728 third-gender voters. The electorate also includes 14,59,039 first-time voters and 68,501 service voters. A total of 4,18,541 postal votes have already been received, and 62 counting centres have been set up.
The main contest in Tamil Nadu is between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which includes Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance, comprising the BJP and PMK.
While the DMK is banking on its “Dravidian 2.0” model, the AIADMK-led alliance is aiming for a comeback. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is making his electoral debut with Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), potentially turning the contest into a three-cornered fight.
The first phase covers 152 constituencies, while the remaining 142 will go to polls in the second phase. A total of 1,478 candidates are in the fray in this phase, the second phase of election will be hold on April 29.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is seeking a fourth consecutive term, while the BJP, which won 77 seats in the previous election, is attempting to expand its presence and form the government in the state. (ANI)
