Despite the unrest and reported EVM glitches that disrupted voting at several polling stations, the Election Commission of India recorded a significant voter turnout of 41.11% by 11 am. The polling process, which began at 7 am and concludes at 6 pm, involves over 3.22 crore eligible voters in this phase. Amidst the tension, BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari cast his vote in Nandigram, asserting that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stands no chance of reelection if dead and fake voters have been eliminated following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). This administrative process, a central focus of the campaign, reportedly led to the deletion of 60 lakh to 90 lakh names, reducing the total voter base from 7.66 crore to 7.04 crore. Adhikari, identifying as a Sanatani Hindu, offered prayers and called for peaceful polling while maintaining a confident stance against the TMC.
The stakes remain exceptionally high as the BJP seeks to unseat the TMC, which is fighting for reelection after the BJP secured 77 seats in 2021. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged women and youth to turn out in large numbers, while the final 48 hours of campaigning saw the political temperature reach a boiling point. In Dum Dum, Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused the TMC of using infiltrators as a vote bank, while TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee retaliated by accusing Shah of disrespecting women with his "Ayeee Didi" remarks. High-profile battles are currently unfolding in key seats, including Bhabanipur, where Mamata Banerjee faces Suvendu Adhikari; Kharagpur Sadar, featuring BJP’s Dilip Ghosh against TMC’s Pradip Sarkar; Murshidabad, with Gouri Sankar Ghosh and Shaoni Singha Roy; and Baharampur, where Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury seeks a political comeback. As the state prepares for the second phase of polling for the remaining 142 seats on April 29, the results scheduled for May 4 will determine the future of this fiercely contested democratic exercise.
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