NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday (April 24) congratulated voters for the record-high turnout in Phase I of the West Bengal Assembly Elections and praised the Election Commission of India (ECI) and security forces for ensuring a peaceful polling process.
In an X post, the Union Minister also expressed gratitude towards the ECI and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel for a “peaceful and secure” polling process on Thursday.
While hinting about a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) victory, Amit Shah said that the voter turnout and peaceful polls indicate the “dawn of a new era of good governance in West Bengal.”
The federal Minister and BJP leader, Shah wrote, “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the esteemed voters of West Bengal for shattering all records of participation in this grand festival of democracy through a historic turnout in the first phase of polling.”
“I express my deep gratitude and congratulations to the Honourable Election Commission, the brave personnel of all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and our West Bengal Police for ensuring one of the most peaceful and secure polling processes in the history of Bengal. This serves as a clear harbinger of the dawn of a new era of good governance in Bengal,” the post further read.
Meanwhile, the polling for Phase I of the Assembly elections concluded at 6 pm on Thursday, with West Bengal recording a significantly higher voter turnout of 91.83 per cent, according to the Election Commission of India.
The high turnout figures underline an active electoral exercise as polling drew to a close amid tight security arrangements across 152 constituencies.
A key highlight was the leadership shown by women voters, who outpaced men. In West Bengal, women’s turnout reached an unprecedented 92.69 per cent compared to 90.92 per cent for men.
The Commission also noted significant participation from transgender persons, with 56.79 per cent turnout.
The polling for the second phase will be held on April 29, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4. - The Statesman/ANN
