THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Kolkata, April 29: The second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections recorded a high voter turnout of 89.99% till 5 p.m. on Wednesday, even as sporadic incidents of violence were reported from some areas.
High Voter Turnout Across Districts
According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), Purba Bardhaman recorded the highest turnout at 92.46%, followed by Hooghly at 90.34% and Howrah at 89.44% by 5 p.m. Polling was held across 142 constituencies spread over seven districts.
Key Battleground Phase
The phase is being seen as a crucial test for the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), as voting covered its strongholds in South Bengal and Kolkata. Around 3.21 crore voters were eligible to cast their votes in this phase.
High-Profile Contest in Bhabanipur
Bhabanipur witnessed brief tension as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, both contesting from the seat, exchanged sharp remarks near a polling booth.
Prominent Candidates in Fray
Several senior TMC leaders are contesting in this phase, including Firhad Hakim (Kolkata Port), Aroop Biswas (Tollygunge), Shashi Panja (Shyampukur), and Bratya Basu (Dum Dum).
Sporadic Violence Reported
Despite the high turnout, reports of isolated violence surfaced from some constituencies, though polling largely remained peaceful.