Record turnout in West Bengal poll fuels rival claims, data tempers conclusions

Kolkata 

The first phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections on Thursday (April 23, 2026) had witnessed the highest-ever voter turnout in any of the State’s Assembly elections since independence, data analysed by The Hindu has revealed.  

The voter turnout on Thursday (April 23, 2026) was 92.88% across 152 constituencies in 16 districts across the State which sealed the fate of 1478 candidates in the fray. Though this is only the first phase of polls and the State voted with a shunted voter list which was reduced by 12% after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process removed at least 91 lakh people, it still had the highest voter turn around in the State.