Overview
- Following Wednesday’s final-phase vote across 142 seats in South Bengal, the Election Commission reported 92.17% turnout for the day and 92.47% across both phases, with counting on May 4.
- The Commission ran heavy security and oversight, deploying 2,321 companies of central forces with live webcasting at all 41,001 polling stations, and said cash, liquor and other inducements worth Rs 510.10 crore were seized.
- Polling featured isolated clashes and complaints, including crude bombs recovered near a booth and baton charges to disperse crowds, as the Bhabanipur race saw tense moments with Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari trading charges.
- A Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls removed lakhs of names in districts such as North and South 24 Parganas and Kolkata, and in at least 25 seats the deletions exceeded previous victory margins, raising the stakes for disputes after results.
- Exit polls released after voting offered a split picture, with some giving the BJP a narrow edge and others favoring the TMC, leaving the outcome unresolved until ballots are counted.