Kolkata pips other metros in voter turnout

KOLKATA: When Kolkata showed its inked finger on Monday, it was one up on the other metros. The city recorded 66.05 per cent polling despite the 41.4-degree Celsius heat and bombs that rocked many areas.

This is the highest voting in at least decade — there was 65.4 per cent turnout in 2004 and 65.5 per cent in 2009. On Monday, Kolkata South registered 67.6 per cent polling and Kolkata North 66.4 per cent. Among the metros, Delhi came a close second with 65.09 per cent voting, followed by Chennai at 61.1 per cent, Bangalore at 54 per cent and Mumbai 51.82 per cent.

The high turnout is surprising given the average Kolkatan's reluctance to drag themselves out on a 'holiday' to vote. Also, EPIC coverage in the city is an abysmal 62.5 per cent;it's 100 per cent in the rest of Bengal.

Early birds, who have never had to wait more than 10-15 minutes to vote in earlier elections, had to wait at least an hour on Monday. Defying earlier patterns, when voting tapers off in the mid-day heat, voters kept up the momentum. In the first two hours, 17 per cent turnout was recorded, which jumped to 33.3 per cent by 11am.

Kolkata's rise in turnout is marginal compared to Delhi's, which rose from 51.8 per cent in 2009 to 65 per cent and Mumbai's, which shot up from 41.4 per cent to 51.8%. In Bangalore, polling has risen from 45.3 per cent in 2009 to 55.9 per cent this time.