12 Kolkata: Bengal recorded a polling percentage of 72.1% in Wednesday's bypolls in six assembly seats. There was a dip of 7.1% compared to the Lok Sabha elections, when the state recorded an average polling of 79.2%.
Bypolls were held in Sitai, Madarihat, Naihati, Haroa, Midnapore and Taldangra after the sitting MLAs stepped down after winning seats in this year's parliamentary polls. The highest turnout was recorded in Taldangra at 78.3%, followed by Haroa at 76.1%.
Naihati had the least turnout of 64.3% while Madarihat posted a slightly better figure of 66.3%. Sitai's polling percentage was 71.3% and in Midnapore it was 73.7%.
The polling percentage in Taldangra in the 2021 assembly polls was 90.2%, one of the highest in the state, which had over 87% polling in 2016 and 2011. Similarly, Haroa had 87.7% polling in the 2021 assembly polls, in 2016 it was 86.7%, while in the 2011 assembly it was 89.8%.
The polling percentage in Midnapore was 85.3% in the 2021 assembly polls. In 2016, it was 84.9%, and in 2011 it was 87.9%. Sitai and Madarihat witnessed 82.1% and 78.4% turnouts, respectively, in 2021. Naihati in 2021 had 82.9% turnout, while it was 81.5% in 2016 and 85.8% in 2011.
Experts felt that many voters preferred to refrain as they had cast their votes barely six months ago. Psychologist Amit Chakraborty said some voters might have lost interest due to the repeated polls. "The voters are well aware that this result will hardly have any impact on the system except for a change of equation in local politics," he said.