Assembly Elections 2026 Highlights | 85.11% voter turnout recorded in Tamil Nadu; 92.49% in West Bengal

Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, deputy general secretary and Parliamentary Party leader, has emerged as one of the key campaigners for the DMK this April 23 assembly election.

. This election is a reporter's delight. I travelled 2,673 km (that's what the car's trip meter had clocked) across 12 districts, covering almost every region of Tamil Nadu.

. The Election Commission on Wednesday said 139 people have been added to the electoral rolls in West Bengal following the SIR-linked tribunal orders and will be able to exercise their franchise in the first phase of assembly polls on April 23.

. West Bengal is going to polls in two phases for its 294 seats, with the voters in the first phase to exercise their franchise on April 23 and the second phase voting will be held on April 29.

. One of the first images to counter the TMC emerged when a first time candidate from the BJP, Sharadwat Mukherjee, who is contesting from the Biddhanagar seat canvassed his assembly with a jumbo sized ‘catla’ fish in hand.

. Returning Officer, Asansol North, Aghor Kumar Roy said, "Everything is proceeding in a very peaceful and orderly manner. The polling teams are gathering their respective materials and will proceed to their designated locations at the polling stations," reports ANI .

. Polling started at 7 am with voters queueing up outside booths in districts ranging from Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri in the north to Murshidabad, Nadia, Birbhum and Hooghly in the south.

. As thousands of people were stranded at various places due to “complete transport paralysis”, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) chief C Joseph Vijay on Thursday urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to extend polling hours by two hours till 8 pm.

In a letter to Chief Electoral Officer (Tamil Nadu), Archana Patnaik, Vijay said thousands of voters are stranded at bus terminals in Chennai, and similarly in other metro cities across Tamil Nadu, with no buses or alternative public transport available to reach their designated polling booths.

. Aam Janata Unnayan Party chief Humayun Kabir on Thursday alleged the ruling Trinamool Congress bribed several of his party candidates to keep them out of the poll fray.

Kabir, who cast his vote during the early hours of polling, was met with protests from Trinamool Congress supporters who raised "go back" slogans when the leader visited a polling booth in Shibnagar village in Murshidabad's Naoda assembly constituency.

The protesters, led by local TMC leaders, surrounded Kabir's vehicle and raised slogans while branding him a "BJP agent". The demonstration sparked tension in the area around the polling station. (PTI)

. The TMC on Thursday accused the police of working in favour of the BJP in Nandigram, while Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari alleged that goons backed by the ruling party were threatening people in the area as voting was underway in the first phase of West Bengal assembly polls.

Addressing a press conference, state minister Shashi Panja alleged that police personnel deployed in Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district were acting in favour of the BJP.

. Members of the BJP resorted to a sudden dharna in front of a polling station in Mylapore constituency here on Thursday protesting against a few DMK members for allegedly attempting to influence voters.

. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "This is the first election of its kind in the last 50 years in which violence has been kept to an absolute minimum. Previously, it was common practice to hang someone every week and simply claim it was a suicide. In many respects, a regime of lawlessness and hooliganism prevailed. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Election Commission; they have once again restored the dignity of democracy on the soil of Bengal... I also commend the government employees here... Based on the information I have received so far, voter turnout is shattering all previous records."

. The BJP on Thursday alleged that its Kumarganj nominee Suvendu Sarkar was manhandled by Trinamool Congress supporters during polling in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections.

. TMC not only stops Central projects, it also gobbles up funds for people; no work gets done in Bengal without bribes: PM Modi at poll rally in West Bengal.

. Modi said that BJP to promote fish export, will gave special attention to fisherfolks of Mathurapur once it wins Bengal polls.

. As first phase of polling nears completion, I can say BJP will form govt in Bengal with full majority, says Shah at rally in Balagarh.

. After poll results come out, no one will be able to infiltrate Bengal; illegal immigrants already here will be pushed out by BJP, says Shah.

. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday visited the BJP's 'war room' at the party's Salt Lake office here, shortly after polling began for the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections.

Shah, who is closely overseeing the party's campaign in the state, reached the 'war room' in the morning and held a closed-door meeting with senior BJP leaders to assess the ground situation, they said.

According to sources, the Union minister took stock of the polling process, particularly in the north Bengal districts where the BJP seeks to retain its stronghold. He also reviewed feedback from party functionaries and booth-level workers regarding voter turnout and any reports of disturbances.

The BJP has set up a centralised 'war room' at its Salt Lake office to monitor polling across constituencies in real time, coordinate responses, and streamline communication between ground workers and the party leadership.

. "I have cast my vote. I urge those who have not yet voted to please step out of their homes and cast their ballots, because every vote counts. So far, we have reached a turnout of 70%, which is excellent. I would also like to encourage first-time voters to come forward and exercise their democratic right," said actor Vishal Krishna Reddy as he exercised his voting right in Chennai.

. She said, "It is an honour to exercise our voting rights. In India, women were granted voting rights on par with men right after independence. India was progressive in giving equal rights from the start of the republic. As part of the NDA alliance, I see the election trend in Tamil Nadu as very positive, with strong support across constituencies—especially in Dharmapuri, which has six assembly segments. People want change, and I am sure the NDA will win."

. I am not interested in any post, I only want end of BJP govt at Centre, said Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee at poll rally in Kolkata.

. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Thursday dialled the West Bengal CEO and enquired about the ground situation in the state, where polling was underway for the first phase of assembly elections, officials said.

Assembly Elections 2026 Highlights | 85.11% voter turnout recorded in Tamil Nadu; 92.49% in West Bengal

Assembly Elections 2026 Live Updates | 85.11% voter turnout recorded in Tamil Nadu; 92.49% in West Bengal

Assembly Elections 2026 Live Updates | 84.45% voter turnout recorded in Tamil Nadu; 91.52% in West Bengal

Assembly Elections 2026 Live Updates | CEC Gyanesh Kumar dials Bengal CEO, enquires about polling process in 1st phase of assembly elections

Assembly Elections 2026 Live Updates | Polling ends across 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu and 152 Assembly constituencies in Bengal; those waiting in queues allowed to vote

Follow us on :

Follow Us