Kolkata, April 29: Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, on Wednesday evening congratulated the people of West Bengal for participating in the polling process in record numbers in both the phases of West Bengal Assembly polls, first on April 23 and then on Wednesday.
“Highest ever percentage of polling in West Bengal in both Phase I & II since Independence – ECI congratulates each voter of West Bengal on this historic feat,” a statement issued by the Election Commission of India quoting Kumar had read. As per the figures available from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, the polling percentage recorded till 6 P.M. had been recorded at 91.31 per cent.
“However, this is not the final figure since at 6 P.M. voters’ queues continued in certain polling booths and hence the final polling percentage will be available either later on Wednesday or on Thursday morning,” said a CEO’s office insider. There is a possibility that the final polling percentage on Wednesday will either be very near or even cross the final percentage figure of 93.19 per cent in the first phase on April 23.
While, in the first phase there was polling for 152 Assembly constituencies, in the second phase on Wednesday there was polling for the remaining 142 constituencies. The results will be declared on May 4. Till 6 P.M. the East Burdwan district recorded the highest polling percentage at 93.39 per cent.
The lowest polling percentage was in the electoral district of Kolkata (Dakshin) at 87.25 per cent. Barring sporadic incidents of poll-related violence and clashes in certain pockets in the districts and Kolkata, the overall polling process was more or less peaceful, being conducted under blanket security coverage of 2,407 companies of central forces under the supervision of 142 general observers and 95 police observers, up from 84 in the first phase of polling.
IANS
