Assembly Polls
LIVE Blog: West Bengal, Tamil Nadu vote in shadow of SIR
West Bengal and Tamil Nadu—two of India’s largest and politically significant states—headed into crucial assembly polls on Thursday amid the shadow of the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
Polling is currently underway in the first phase in West Bengal, where the ruling Trinamool Congress faces a strong challenge and a potential 15-year anti-incumbency wave. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu is voting in a single-phase election on April 23.
The BJP is making an aggressive push to unseat Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the 294-seat West Bengal assembly. In Tamil Nadu, the saffron party has joined forces with the AIADMK in a bid to topple the ruling DMK-Congress alliance in the 234-seat assembly.
Higher voter turnout reflects BJP's win in Bengal: PM Modi
Addressing a rally in Mathurapur, West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "The way women and youth have come out to vote against the TMC has been witnessed across polling.
"The high turnout clearly shows that fear is being defeated and ‘bharosa’ is set to win."
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(Photo: BJP/X)
Actor Trisha Krishnan casts her vote in Chennai
VIDEO | Tamil Nadu Election 2026: Actor Trisha Krishnan casts vote at St Francis Xavier School, Alwarpet, Chennai.#AssemblyPollsWithPTI#TamilNaduPollsWithPTI
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 23, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/iWD29XZOhq
Tamil Nadu: BJP leader K Annamalai casts his vote
Performed my democratic duty.
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) April 23, 2026
Have you? pic.twitter.com/dQS2YvHtpc
62% voter turnout in West Bengal, over 56% in Tamil Nadu till 1 pm
The Election Commission has reported 62.18 percent voter turnout in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly election till 1 pm, while 56.81 percent turnout has been recorded in Tamil Nadu.
Bengal: Kumarganj BJP candidate Suvendu Sarkar alleges attack by TMC workers
Kumarganj BJP candidate Suvendu Sarkar attacked allegedly by TMC workers in South Dinajpur, West Bengal.
Kumarganj #BJP candidate Suvendu Sarkar attacked allegedly by #TMC workers in South Dinajpur, #WestBengal. #Kumarganj #WestBengalLegislativeAssemblyelection2026 #BengalPolls pic.twitter.com/kyrMkcNgLc
— India Blooms (@indiablooms) April 23, 2026
Poll violence: Crude bombs hurled in Murshidabad's Nowda
Tension gripped Murshidabad's Nowda where crude bombs were hurled near a polling booth injuring several.
On the instructions of Mamata Banerjee, democracy in Murshidabad is once again drenched in violence.
— Tulla Veerender Goud (@TVG_BJP) April 23, 2026
Crude bombs hurled in Nowda. Several people injured.
Every election in TMC follows the same script of intimidation, bombs, bloodshed. pic.twitter.com/9dOYHWUVtr
MNM chief Kamal Haasan, his actor daughter Shruti Haasan cast vote in Tamil Nadu
வாக்களிப்பது கடமை, உரிமை, பெருமை. தமிழே எழுவாய். தமிழே வெல்வாய். pic.twitter.com/AVyoVX3Tv9
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) April 23, 2026
41% voter turnout in West Bengal, over 37% in Tamil Nadu till 11 am
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has reported 41.11 percent voter turnout in the first phase of West Bengal assembly election till 11 am, while 37.56 percent turnout has been recorded in Tamil Nadu.
West Bengal LoP and BJP's Nandigram candidate Suvendu Adhikari casts his vote
West Bengal LoP and BJP’s Nandigram candidate Suvendu Adhikari casts his vote in the constituency #westbengal #suvenduadhikari #bengalelections2026 #bjp pic.twitter.com/ZvgDcPJ7FH
— India Blooms (@indiablooms) April 23, 2026
Tamil Nadu CM and DMK chief MK Stalin casts his vote
(Photo: MK Stalin/X)
PM Modi appeals to voters to participate in elections
PM Modi wrote on X, "Phase 1 of the West Bengal Assembly elections takes place today. I urge all citizens to participate in this festival of democracy with full strength. I especially appeal to my young friends and to the women of West Bengal to vote in large numbers."
Phase 1 of the West Bengal Assembly elections takes place today. I urge all citizens to participate in this festival of democracy with full strength. I especially appeal to my young friends and to the women of West Bengal to vote in large numbers.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 23, 2026
He added, "As Tamil Nadu votes in the Assembly elections, I call upon all voters to take part enthusiastically in this sacred duty of democracy. I urge the youth and the women of Tamil Nadu in particular to come out and vote in record numbers."
As Tamil Nadu votes in the Assembly elections, I call upon all voters to take part enthusiastically in this sacred duty of democracy. I urge the youth and the women of Tamil Nadu in particular to come out and vote in record numbers.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 23, 2026
Early polling scenes from Gulma Tea Garden in North Bengal
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