Final voter turnout 81.66 per cent in phase 5 of WB polls

Kolkata: Over 81 per cent electorate had exercised their franchise in yesterday's polling for the fifth and penultimate phase of West Bengal Assembly election. The Election Commission today announced the final poll percentage as 81.66 per cent for 53 seats. Hooghly district recorded 82.52 per cent, Kolkata South 65.10 per cent and South 24 Parganas 83.14 per cent. Altogether 349 candidates, including 43 women, were in the fray for the fifth phase where about 1.2 crore voters were eligible to exercise their franchise. So far all the phases have seen over 80 per cent voter turnouts. The fourth phase had recorded 81.25 per cent voter turn out while the figures in the third and second phases were 82.28 per cent and 83.05 per cent respectively. In the two parts of phase one of polling held on April 4 and April 11, the final turnout was 84.22 per cent and 83.73 per cent respectively. The last and the sixth phase of polling will be held on May 5.