Invalid votes in “highly politically conscious” West Bengal rose to 4.31% in 1971 from 3.80% in 1967.
The Election Commission speculated that it could be due to, for a large extent, the reign of (Naxal) terror prevailing at that time.
Fear psychosis might have completely taken over Bengal voters and perhaps clouded their judgement.
It is not at all unlikely that they went to vote and hurriedly put some voting mark on the ballot paper and quickly ran away to their homes, an EC report had said.
Published 30 April 2019, 06:07 IST