The observation came during court proceedings when senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee informed the bench that migrant labourers from across India had travelled back to West Bengal to cast their votes. He stated that many feared deletion of their names from electoral rolls following the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision exercise in the state.
Responding to the submission, Chief Justice Surya Kant remarked that such a high turnout reinforces the democratic framework. He stated that as a citizen, he felt encouraged to see such active electoral participation, adding that when people exercise their right to vote, the democratic system is strengthened.
Justice Joymalya Bagchi, also part of the bench, noted that apart from the significant turnout, another positive aspect was the absence of widespread violence during polling. Advocate Banerjee, representing the West Bengal government, echoed this sentiment, stating that the first phase of polling remained peaceful.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of the Centre, acknowledged that while there were a few isolated incidents, the overall conduct of the elections was peaceful. He attributed this largely to the deployment of Central forces across the state.
In response, Justice Bagchi remarked that conflicts among powerful entities often result in suffering for ordinary citizens, highlighting the broader social implications of political contests.
The first phase of polling, held on April 23, covered 152 constituencies with an electorate of approximately 3.6 crore voters. The turnout of 92.7 per cent marked a significant increase compared to the 84 per cent recorded during the first phase of the 2021 Assembly elections in West Bengal.
The remaining 142 constituencies are scheduled to go to polls on April 29, with the final results set to be declared on May 4. Despite extensive security arrangements, including the deployment of over 2,400 companies of central paramilitary forces across more than 44,000 polling booths, reports of sporadic incidents of violence emerged from certain areas during the voting process.
The high voter participation, combined with largely peaceful polling conditions, underscores a crucial moment in India’s democratic process, reflecting both public engagement and the continued challenges of ensuring free and fair elections in a politically sensitive environment.
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