Assembly Polls 2026: Strong Early Turnout in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, Voting Crosses 17% by 9 AM
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New Delhi | April 23
The Assembly elections 2026 witnessed a healthy voter turnout in the early hours, with both Tamil Nadu and West Bengal recording over 17% voting by 9 AM on Thursday.
According to official data, West Bengal registered 18.76% turnout, while Tamil Nadu recorded 17.69%, indicating strong voter participation at the start of polling.
District-Wise Turnout Highlights
Several districts reported impressive early voting percentages.
Tamil Nadu
- Tiruppur – 20.38% (highest turnout)
- Erode – 19.55%
- Chennai – 16.51%
West Bengal
- Paschim Medinipur – 20.51%
- Bankura – 20.20%
- Jhargram – 19.84%
These numbers suggest strong voter enthusiasm across both urban and rural regions.
Polling Across Key Constituencies
Polling began early morning under tight security arrangements.
- Voting is being conducted in 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu
- Meanwhile, 152 constituencies in West Bengal are voting in Phase 1
The Election Commission confirmed that polling will continue until 6:00 PM, while counting is scheduled for May 4.
Key Leaders Cast Their Votes
Several prominent leaders and celebrities participated in voting early in the day.
Notable figures include:
- M. K. Stalin
- Vijay
- Rajinikanth
- Dhruv Vikram
Their participation encouraged voters and boosted early turnout.
Tamil Nadu’s Voter Strength
Tamil Nadu has a massive electorate base.
According to Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik:
- Total voters: 5.73 crore+
- Female voters: 2.93 crore
- Male voters: 2.80 crore
- Third gender voters: 7,728
Additionally:
- 14.59 lakh first-time voters are participating
- 68,501 service voters are registered
- Over 4.18 lakh postal votes have already been received
Authorities have also set up 62 counting centres to ensure smooth result processing.
High-Stakes Political Battle
The elections are witnessing intense competition in both states.
Tamil Nadu
The main contest is between:
- DMK-led alliance
- AIADMK-led NDA
At the same time, Vijay’s party TVK is making its debut, potentially creating a three-way contest.
West Bengal
- Mamata Banerjee aims for a fourth term
- BJP is pushing to form the government
A total of 1,478 candidates are contesting in this phase across the state.
Security and Arrangements
Authorities have deployed heavy security forces to ensure peaceful voting.
- Polling stations are under surveillance
- Security personnel are managing crowd flow
- EVMs are functioning smoothly
Therefore, officials expect the voting process to remain orderly throughout the day.
The early voter turnout in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal reflects strong public participation in the democratic process.
With turnout already crossing 17% by 9 AM, both states are likely to see a significant voter response by the end of the day.
As high-stakes political battles unfold, the final results on May 4 will determine the future leadership in both states.
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