BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Friday (April 24, 2026) alleged that a BJP worker was intimidated and threatened at her residence in South Kolkata by ruling TMC supporters, and demanded immediate action from the Election Commission of India (ECI).

In a post on X, Mr. Adhikari claimed that BJP worker Bina Das was targeted by a group of “goons” who surrounded her house on late Wednesday (April 22, 2026) evening and harassed her for conducting door-to-door campaigning for the party.

“This is a blatant attempt to stifle the Opposition and terrorise women party workers who are standing up against this corrupt regime,” Mr. Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal assembly, said.

He linked the incident to the high voter turnout of nearly 93% recorded in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections on Thursday (April 23, 2026), claiming the ruling party was “scared” following what he described as an “imminent rout.” Mr. Adhikari, who is contesting from the high-profile Bhabanipur constituency, the seat held by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said a complaint had been filed at Kalighat police station and urged the ECI to take “immediate cognisance” and ensure strict action against the perpetrators.

Mr. Adhikari had won from the Nandigram seat in the 2021 Assembly elections, defeating Ms. Banerjee. She later went to the Assembly after winning a bypoll from Bhabanipur. The BJP leader is contesting from Nandigram this time too.

“If the local police remain silent spectators to this hooliganism, we will not sit back,” he warned, adding that TMC’s threats will not stop change. -- PTI

Tamil Nadu recorded a voting percentage of 85.15, its highest ever, on Thursday (April 23, 2026) when elections were held to 234 Assembly segments, with Karur and Salem districts topping the charts with over a 90% turnout, according to EC figures.

EC sources here on Friday (April 24) said that according to the provisional figure, Tamil Nadu has registered 85.15 per cent turnout. Karur district topped with 92.63% followed by Salem which registered 90.76%. Kanniyakumari district has recorded the lowest of 75.61%.

In Chennai district, Perambur constituency, where TVK chief Vijay is contesting, secured the highest poll percentage of 89.73% compared to 11 other constituencies in the State capital. Mylapore constituency secured the lowest of 74.89% in the State capital.

- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (April 24) claimed that the “wave of change” in West Bengal has become evident in the first phase of polling and asserted that the support shown in “favour of the BJP” sounded the conch shell of its victory in the assembly elections.

Addressing a rally at Panihati under the Dum Dum Lok Sabha constituency in North 24 Parganas, PM Modi alleged that the ruling TMC had “crushed the temple of democracy” in Bengal through “dictatorship”, but said that the people of the State began to “reconstruct” it through their mandate.

“The wave of change that had been visible in Bengal for a long time — yesterday’s first phase of voting has put its seal on it. The support shown yesterday in favour of the BJP has sounded the conch shell of its victory,” he said.

- PTI

The Supreme Court on Friday (April 24, 2026) asked the appellate tribunals to give out-of-turn hearing to those who make out a case of urgent hearing for addition in voter lists after the Special Intensive Revision of rolls in West Bengal.

West Bengal registered a record voter turnout of 92.72% in the first phase of assembly polls for 152 constituencies.

“As a citizen of India, I was very happy to see the voting percentage. When people exercise the right to vote, this strengthens democratic set up,” the CJI said.

-PTI

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key ally of the Congress in Kerala, has reiterated its unease over the ongoing public debate within the Congress on the Chief Minister’s post.

IUML Malappuram district general secretary P. Abdul Hameed, MLA, criticised the discussions, stating that these should have been avoided as such talks “risk disappointing” UDF supporters.

Asserting that people voted with enthusiasm for a change in the first phase of the Assembly elections in Kolkata, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday (April 24, 2026) said ‘Anga, Banga and Kalinga’, the ancient kingdoms that are present-day Assam, Bengal and Odisha, will have a BJP Government next month.

Addressing a press conference in Kolkata, Mr. Shah said the BJP will secure an absolute majority in the Assembly elections, and bag more than 110 of the 152 seats that went to the polls in the first phase on Thursday (April 23, 2026).

As the EC shifted EVMs to the strong rooms following polling on April 23, political parties, including the ruling DMK and the AIADMK, have decided to maintain 24/7 shift-based vigil at the designated centres.

Ahead of the May 4 counting of polled votes, the Election Commission has shifted the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPATs) to the strong rooms.

Though multiple security systems, including the central armed police force and Tamil Nadu special police teams, were in place, political parties have deployed their cadres to ensure the safety of EVMs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address two public meetings in West Bengal on Friday (April 24) as the BJP intensifies its campaign ahead of the second phase of the assembly elections.

PM Modi is scheduled to hold rallies in Dum Dum in the northern part of the city and Jadavpur in the south.

The rallies assume significance as the BJP seeks to consolidate its support base in south Bengal.

- PTI

Union Minister Amit Shah on Friday (April 24) spoke about the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly election. He said, “1,278 people injured in 2016 Bengal polls, 1,681 in 2021, but less than 30 yesterday.”

-PTI

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Friday (April 24) said that the record voter turnout in West Bengal (Phase-1) and Tamil Nadu Assembly elections is good for democracy.Speaking to reporters, Mr. Raut said the high participation reflects stronger democratic engagement, but claimed that the BJP used government resources to facilitate the travel of voters.

“A storm indeed came, and this type of voting happened. SIR is also a reason why people voted. It is good for democracy when the maximum number of people vote. BJP used govt funds to bring maximum Bengalis, whether or not they are voters, from across the country, to West Bengal,” he said.

- ANI

The Election Commission ordered the suspension of the officer-in-charge (OC) of the Hingalganj police station in North 24 Parganas district following allegations that he was acting in a partisan manner.

In a communication to West Bengal Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala, the EC said it had examined a report sent by State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal on April 21 regarding complaints of bias and an alleged nexus between the OC and “local elements”.

“After considering the facts and circumstances of the matter, the Commission directs that Sandip Sarkar, Officer-in-Charge, Hingalganj Police Station, be suspended and disciplinary proceedings be initiated against him immediately,” said the order dated April 23.

- PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday (April 24) congratulated voters for the record-high turnout in Phase I of the West Bengal Assembly Elections and praised the Election Commission of India (ECI) and security forces for ensuring a peaceful polling process.In an X post, the Union Minister also expressed gratitude towards the ECI and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel for a “peaceful and secure” polling process on Thursday, while hinting towards the BJP’s victory, Amit Shah said that the voter turnout and peaceful polls indicate the “dawn of a new era of good governance in West Bengal.”

- ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a boat ride on the Hooghly river here on Friday (April 24) morning and met with boatmen and morning walkers.

PM Modi posted a few photographs of his river trip on social media, in which he is seen seated on a wooden boat with a camera in hand, and the iconic Howrah Bridge and the Vidyasagar Setu are visible in the background.

“Tried my hand at photographing this great river. Also caught a close glimpse of the Vidyasagar Setu and Howrah Bridge,” the Prime Minister said on X.

The fisherfolk community of Rameswaram and nearby areas like Pamban though distressed with the recent arrests of fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy exercised their franchise at the designated polling stations in the Ramanathapuram constituency.

With a visible sign of helplessness and resignation, they casted their votes, believing their democratic duty would bring about relief to the long-lasting issue of arrests and seizures.

Residents of some gated communities in Chennai and neighbouring districts got to cast their vote within their premises in the Assembly election on Thursday, a move aimed at improving voter convenience.

The first phase of polling across 152 seats in the West Bengal Assembly elections on Thursday (April 23, 2026) witnessed the usual scenes of violence, with supporters of rival parties targeting each other. However, there were few exceptions where political courtesy took precedence over political rivalry.

In the first elections held after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the launch of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, most constituencies across the central region recorded a high voter turnout in the Assembly election on Thursday.

An attack on a Naam Tamilar Katchi woman candidate at Papanasam constituency and the stabbing of a policeman, reportedly due to personal enmity in Poompuhar Assembly segment triggered some tension in the region. Barring the two incidents, polling largely peaceful in all 41 Assembly constituencies in the nine districts of Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Karur, Perambalur, and Ariyalur in the region.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar hailed the voters of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu on Thursday (April 23, 2026) for recording the highest ever polling percentage since independence.

While Tamil Nadu recorded 84.69% polling percentage, West Bengal (Phase-I) registered 91.78%. Previously, the highest poll participation in Tamil Nadu was 78.29% in 2011, and in the same year West Bengal recorded 84.72%.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. S. S. Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, kept a close watch on the polling via live webcasting which was available in 100% of polling stations in both states, the ECI said.

Congress leader and candidate from Berhampore Assembly Constituency, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, alleged that a party polling agent was attacked by workers of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) during the first phase of voting in the West Bengal Assembly Elections.Speaking to ANI on Thursday (April 23), Chowdhury claimed that the incident took place amid polling activity and accused ruling party workers of involvement. Speaking to ANI, Mr. Chowdhury said, “Our polling agents have been attacked by some goons here. These goons are from the government,” he said.

- ANI

With polling for the Tamil Nadu Assembly election concluded on April 23, the election commission officials shifted the sealed EVMs, VVPATs, and other poll material to the strong rooms of the designated counting centres across the state.

The EVMs were transported with heavy police and armed forces protection to 62 counting centres where the counting for all the 234 Assembly constituencies will take place on May 4.

Multi-layered police protection has been provided at the designated counting centres. The strong rooms at the counting centres are guarded by the Central Armed Police Force, Tamil Nadu Special Police, and local police round the clock, an official said.

The Election Commission issued a fresh set of post-poll guidelines for the West Bengal Assembly elections, laying down strict protocols for handling surveillance cameras and video data after voting concludes, a senior official said.

Under the new guidelines issued on Thursday (April 24), SD cards used in polling booth cameras cannot be removed immediately after voting ends, and officials concerned will only be permitted to dismount the cameras, which must then remain under the sector officer’s supervision, he said.

“The SD cards can be removed only at the designated data collection and receiving centre in the presence of the Assistant Returning Officer,” he said.

-PTI

The recently installed BJP-led government in Bihar is all set to seek a vote of confidence in the state legislative assembly on Friday (April 24).

According to the schedule of legislative business for the one-day special session, released by the Vidhan Sabha secretariat, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary will move the motion, proposing that “the House reposes its trust in the current council of Ministers in the State”.

Mr. Choudhary became the first BJP leader to head a government in the State earlier this month following the resignation of JD(U) president Nitish Kumar, who gave up the top post upon getting elected to the Rajya Sabha.

- PTI