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Historic turnout in Phase 1 of Bengal elections raises key questions: fear of voter list deletion, pressure for change, or TMC uniting ahead of Phase 2?
Murshidabad, the district that saw the highest number of deletions in SIR, recorded the highest voting percentage in the state across its four assembly constituencies. (ANI)
92.88 percent. This is not the score of CBSE Class 10 topper. This is the voting percentage for Phase 1 in West Bengal – almost the highest for any election in the history of the country. This is also from Bengal highest voter turnout ever.
The data, which comes ahead of the all-important Phase 2 of the West Bengal elections next week, has shocked pollsters and taken political parties by surprise.
is this special intensive review (SIR) effect? Remember, about 12 percent of the state’s voter list was removed in these elections. Or are people turning out to vote in large numbers because they want their vote to be counted?
Read this also Historic turnout recorded in Bengal in 2026 elections. The last time this happened, politics changed forever
In 2021, there was 10 percent more voting than last time. The last time Bengal saw the highest voter turnout was 84.72 per cent in 2011, when it was the call for change as Mamata Banerjee overthrew more than three decades of Left rule.
So this time is it an anti-incumbency vote against Banerjee? Or to keep him in power as his voters united? Or is it simply a case of voters not taking any risks and coming out to vote, fearing that their names will not remain in the voting list due to SIR?
Let’s first look at some figures.
The total number of voters in Phase 1 was 3.6 crore. About 3.35 crore people have voted in 92.88 percent voting. This is about 25 lakh more than the number of voters who voted in the last election when the seats went to polls in Phase 1. Then this number was 3.11 crores.
Murshidabad, the district that saw the highest turnout in SIR, recorded the highest voting percentage in the state with four of its assembly constituencies – Samserganj, Raghunathganj, Bhagwangola and Lalgola – all of which recorded over 96 per cent voting. This is a heavily Muslim dominated area, which has seen communal violence in recent years as well as the campaign to build the Babri Masjid.
This time there were almost no incidents of election violence in West Bengal – people voted fearlessly and the presence of 2.5 lakh strong central forces served to boost confidence. This time, re-polling did not take place at even a single booth in West Bengal, the keywords being ‘no fear’.
The BJP sees it as a positive sign that voters were not intimidated and voted for change. The party believes that the growing number of voters comes from its Hindu voters who were earlier reluctant to vote for the party due to fear and retaliation.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has already declared victory and claimed that BJP is winning 110 seats in the first phase itself. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the BJP is heading towards an overwhelming and decisive victory and predicted that there will be districts where TMC will not get a single seat.
This brings me to another important aspect of this election – the message from the BJP top to the voters.
Read this also West Bengal’s electoral paradox: Despite 37 lakh deletions, 20 lakh more votes were cast in the first phase
At the core of the party’s approach is a psychological barrier that has long been working against it in the state – the fear among a section of voters that openly supporting it could invite intimidation or retaliation.
This concern, which was often raised silently in internal surveys and booth-level feedback, is now being addressed directly. Senior BJP leaders, including Shah, have stepped up their rhetoric against those they describe as “goons” and local syndicates.
First, PM Modi warned “TMC goons” to surrender at their nearest police station before April 29 or face the wrath of the new government after May 4. Shah doubled down on that message when he said the new BJP government would “hang TMC goons upside down” after the results.
The warnings are not just political attacks; They are calibrated signals aimed at reassuring voters that the BJP is aware of these fears and prepared to counter them. Shah’s extended stay as well as the Prime Minister’s frequent visits to the state are aimed at conveying that the party is fully invested in Bengal and is ready to support its supporters.
A clear communications push is also underway. Party leaders are emphasizing themes of political freedom and democratic rights, describing the act of voting as a matter of courage and change. BJP feels that this has worked for it in Phase-1.
Here’s why BJP thinks higher turnout will help it:
Fear free voting: Heavy central forces ensured peaceful polling, there will be no re-polling.
Benefit to BJP: The party sees the high turnout as fearless voters supporting change.
Big Claims: Amit Shah and PM Narendra Modi have predicted a strong victory for BJP.
Breaking the Fear Factor: The campaign has targeted the narrative of intimidation of BJP supporters.
Tough message: Powerful rhetoric and outreach present voting as courage and change.
But there may be another ‘fear’ which has dominated people’s minds. There is a fear that if he does not vote this time, his name will be removed from the next SIR. This may be unfounded, but anecdotes show that fear existed. It is also possible that Banerjee’s voters united considering SIR a conspiracy to oust her from power and ensured that every vote counted.
Read this also West Bengal’s electoral paradox: Despite 37 lakh deletions, 20 lakh more votes were cast in the first phase
Banerjee certainly feels so, claiming that the high turnout is a mandate against SIR and the BJP.
Furthermore, West Bengal’s unusually high turnout cannot be explained solely by traditional factors such as strong party machinery or booth management. Instead, it reflects a deep, emotionally driven mobilization shaped by concern, identity, and political intent. Despite being procedural on paper, the SIR has created widespread uncertainty among voters as to whether their names will remain on the list, especially in areas with a migration history. This has turned voting into a defensive act – a claim to presence and inclusion.
The psychological impact of the ongoing debate over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) has further intensified this sentiment. Even without full implementation, these issues have increased fears about citizenship, especially in border and minority-dominated areas.
In this context, high turnout indicates not only participation but also a collective response to perceived vulnerability.
This also includes the apparent return of migrant voters, who traveled long distances not only to vote, but to be seen doing so – leading to both participation and protest at the polls.
While this type of voting does not guarantee any particular electoral outcome, it does reshape the contest by reducing margins, increasing polarization, and reducing complacency. Ultimately, this election reflects “emotional voting”, where voting becomes a powerful expression of identity, survival, and political agency, rather than mere routine participation.
This is why TMC thinks more voting will help it:
Alternative Fear Factors: Concern about possible deletion from the electoral roll (SIR) may have motivated people to vote.
Perception vs Reality: Even if unfounded, anecdotal evidence suggests that this fear influenced voting.
TMC Integration: It is likely that Banerjee’s voters united in response to SIR’s concerns.
Political Profile: TMC sees SIR as a strategy to oust the government from power, creating urgency among its base.
Mamta’s claim: The high turnout reflects the mandate against SIR and the BJP.
Nevertheless, SIR has a major role in increasing voter turnout. ECI officials say that the voter list has been purified and now the true picture of voting percentage has emerged.
Traditionally, high turnout always means an anti-incumbency vote. BJP believes so. However, TMC believes that this is not just high turnout but a retaliation to the drastic move by SIR to remove voters. Which way it goes will determine the election outcome on May 4.
April 25, 2026, 18:00 IST
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