Supreme Court Notes High Voter Turnout, Peaceful Polling in West Bengal Assembly Elections

April 24, 2026 : The Supreme Court of India on Friday expressed satisfaction over the peaceful conduct of the first phase of Assembly elections in West Bengal, highlighting the record voter turnout of over 92 per cent as a strong indicator of democratic participation.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Pancholi made the observations while hearing a batch of petitions challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls carried out by the Election Commission of India.

The CJI remarked that such high voter participation reflects the strength of democratic engagement, noting that when citizens recognise the power of their vote and adhere to the rule of law, incidents of electoral violence tend to decline.

Senior Advocate and Trinamool Congress leader Kalyan Banerjee submitted that even migrant workers had returned to the state to cast their votes, with many participating despite concerns over possible deletion of their names from electoral rolls. He informed the Court that only 139 appeals relating to deletion of names had been decided so far by appellate tribunals, while nearly 27 lakh individuals were still awaiting hearings.

Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta pointed to the role of central forces in ensuring peaceful polling, particularly in a state that has historically witnessed election-related violence.

The Court directed individuals whose names were excluded from voter lists to approach the 19 appellate tribunals constituted under its orders. These tribunals have been instructed to prioritise urgent cases, especially those concerning inclusion in electoral rolls. The Bench also indicated that the broader question regarding the right to remain on electoral rolls would be examined at a later stage.

The first phase of polling, held on April 23, 2026, covered 152 constituencies in West Bengal and recorded a turnout exceeding 92 per cent. The second phase is scheduled for April 29, with counting of votes set for May 4.