Vote-shy Kolkata catches up with Bengal, well, almost

Kolkata: Kolkata, which traditionally registers a low voter turnout, almost caught up with the rest of Bengal Wednesday.Election Commission data shows that till 9pm, Kolkata recorded over 88.4% voter turnout, a huge jump from 60.2% in the 2021 assembly elections, the lowest in West Bengal. The overall turnout in the state has breached 90% mark this time.Kolkata South, with four Assembly constituencies of Kolkata Port, Bhowanipore, Rashbehari and Ballygunge, recorded a polling percentage of 87.7 and Kolkata North 89.3.Bhowanipore, the most keenly watched constituency, where chief minister Mamata Banerjee and BJP's Suvendu Adhikari are facing off, recorded 86.6% polling till 9 pm. In 2021, Bhowanipore had recorded a voter turnout of 61.3%.As per EC data, Chowringhee in Kolkata North, which faced 87,725 SIR deletions - the highest in the state - saw 86.6% voter turnout till 9 pm. In 2021, it had recorded 53.2%. Despite significant SIR deletions, Entally, Beleghata, Shyampukur, Maniktala and Cossipore-Belgachhia saw turnout of 92%, 90.7%, 88%, 90.2% and 88.9%, respectively, till 9 pm.Former HoD of political science and sociology at Presidency, Prasanta Roy, says SIR and anti-incumbency have played a role. Former Prasar Bharati CEO and ex-RS MP Jawhar Sircar, however, offered a differing view. "There is anger over people's names being struck off. Many have voted, who could not have otherwise," he said.