In Bengal, women voters are growing at higher rate than men since 2014

Nearly 75 lakh more voters compared to the 2016 assembly polls are eligible to cast their votes in the ongoing elections. This is over one-tenth of the current electoral strength (7.34 crore) in the state.

Women voters have been a driving force for Mamata Banerjee’s repeated electoral successes. Data shows percentage growth of women voters in West Bengal has surpassed that of men in recent elections. In fact, for a state that has been consistently recording high voter turnout, the total number of electors too has seen significant growth since Mamata came to power in 2011. With 159 more seats left to vote in another four phases in Bengal, how far the Trinamool Congress can capitalise on the state’s added electoral strength in the face of a resurgent BJP remains to be seen. But here we try to decipher how an increase in women voters has both major contenders trying to woo the same constituency. Nearly 75 lakh more voters compared to the 2016 assembly polls are eligible to cast their votes in the ongoing elections. This is over one-tenth of the current electoral strength (7.34 crore) in the state. But is this a huge spike in the number of electors in respect to previous elections? Actually, not.