Polling in the Assembly elections held on Thursday in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal witnessed a record turnout, indicating strong voter participation across both states. By 5 pm, Tamil Nadu recorded a turnout of 82.4 per cent, while West Bengal registered an even higher turnout of 90 per cent, with voters turning out in large numbers to exercise their franchise.
While Tamil Nadu saw peaceful polling across all 234 constituencies, West Bengal witnessed sporadic incidents of violence. In Murshidabad, clashes broke out between TMC and AJUP workers, who reportedly attacked each other with stones, bricks, and sticks. In another incident, allegations emerged from South Dinajpur district that a BJP candidate was attacked during polling.
In Tamil Nadu, the contest is primarily between the ruling DMK and the AIADMK-led alliance. In West Bengal, the main electoral battle is between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The election process in West Bengal had also seen political tensions earlier, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accusing the Election Commission and the Centre of removing large numbers of voters from the rolls during the nomination process.