Polls to the Calcutta Municipal Corporation on Sunday witnessed a voter turnout of around 63.63 per cent till 5pm with the state election commission terming it “commendable amid the Covid-19 pandemic”.

However, Opposition parties alleged foul play in the final hours that apparently pushed up the turnout figure.

A senior official of the state poll panel said: “Till 5pm, 63.63 per cent polling was reported. It is expected to reach 65 per cent in the final tally as some voters were still queuing up in front of the booths after 5pm. The polling percentage is considered commendable amid the Covid-19 pandemic.”

The poll panel, sources said, was relieved because there was an apprehension that voter turnout would remain low in the CMC election this year because of two reasons — the scare of Covid-19 and the lack of interest among voters on account of the perception of a Trinamul sweep.

“But it appears people have finally come out to elect their representatives in the city’s civic body,” said a source.
More than 60 per cent voting is considered good in an election, more so for a city like Calcutta where the turnout was around 65 per cent in the recent Assembly polls and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

“In the 2015 CMC polls, the voter turnout was little over 68 per cent. This year, it appears that the voter turnout may fall short compared to that of 2015,” said an official.
Although the election commission expressed satisfaction at the voter turnout, Opposition parties raised questions over the heavy polling in the final few hours.
“Till 2pm, the voter turnout was 38.37 per cent. It is unbelievable that people came out in large numbers in the last few hours to cast their votes on a winter day,” said a city-based political observer.

Voters at a polling booth in New Alipore on Sunday. Sanat Kr Sinha

The BJP alleged that Trinamul cadres had captured several booths by driving away Opposition agents and resorted to false voting. “It is almost impossible that about 27 per cent polling was recorded in the last three hours. Without false voting, such an increase in voter turnout is just impossible,” said a BJP leader.
The BJP and the CPM demanded re-poll at several booths. Although the parties were yet to submit a list of specific booths where they demanded the re-poll, the leaders said the number of booths would be more than 200.

The poll panel said it had received 453 complaints during the day and all were attended to and steps initiated accordingly.
“No booth was captured. All CCTV cameras installed at the booths worked properly. A meeting will be held with the observers and after that, a decision on the demand for the re-poll will be taken,” said a source.