LIVE Blog: West Bengal, Tamil Nadu vote in shadow of SIR

West Bengal records 91% turnout in phase 1, Tamil Nadu registers 84% voting

West Bengal records 91.46 percent voter turnout as voting for Phase 1 ends, while 84.41 percent turnout has been recorded in Tamil Nadu.

Bengal polls: Mob attacks central forces near a polling station in Birbhum

A mob attacked central forces near a polling station in Birbhum, leaving 3 CAPF personnel, one policeman & a driver of a police vehicle injured. Additional forces deployed to the scene, situation now under control.

Amit Shah visits war room at BJP office in Kolkata

PM Modi visits Belur Math in West Bengal

Amid his busy campaigning, PM Modi visited Belur Math in poll-bound West Bengal. 

Bengal polls: Woman dies after collapsing in queue in Malda

A 60-year-old woman died after collapsing in queue in the Malda district of West Bengal. 

About 90% voter turnout in West Bengal, over 82% in Tamil Nadu till 5 pm

The Election Commission has reported a record 89.93 percent voter turnout in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly election till 5 pm, while 82.24 percent turnout has been recorded in Tamil Nadu.

‘People voting to protect their rights’: Mamata says high turnout backs TMC in Bengal

“The higher turnout reflects people’s determination to vote for the TMC because they know what is at stake,” she said while campaigning in Kolkata.

“People understand this is their fight to protect their rights. How can the Prime Minister claim victory while voting is still underway?”

“TMC has already moved closer to victory after the first phase of elections,” she added.

(Photo: Mamata Banerjee/Facebook) 

Attack on BJP candidate in Bengal: Five arrested

Police have arrested five people in connection with the attack on BJP candidate from Kumarganj in South Dinajpur, Suvendu Sarkar, an Election Commission official said.

Sarkar was earlier assaulted, allegedly by Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers, while visiting polling stations in his constituency.

Bengal: Central forces attacked near polling station in Birbhum

A mob, demonstrating over alleged malfunction in EVM, attacked Central Armed Police Forces personnel with bricks in Birbhum district of West Bengal, nearly an hour after the Election Commission had warned of possible disruptions in three districts.

At least three CAPF jawans, a policeman and a driver of a police vehicle were injured in the incident, while a police jeep was also vandalised.

Additional forces have been deployed to the area and the situation has been brought under control.

Tamil Nadu: Actor Keerthy Suresh casts her vote

Tamil Nadu: Actor Suriya and his actress wife Jyothika cast vote

Bengal: EC alerts central forces amid intel of disruption after 4 pm

The Election Commission has instructed central forces to remain on heightened alert following intelligence inputs indicating possible attempts by miscreants to disrupt polling in Murshidabad, Birbhum and Cooch Behar districts after 4 pm.

Authorities issued the directive as a precautionary measure, even as voting has so far proceeded largely peacefully across 152 constituencies in the state.

Over 78% voter turnout in West Bengal, 70% in Tamil Nadu till 3 pm

The Election Commission has reported 78.77 percent voter turnout in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly election till 3 pm, while 70 percent turnout has been recorded in Tamil Nadu.

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."

(Photo: BJP/X) 

Actor Trisha Krishnan casts her vote in Chennai

Tamil Nadu: BJP leader K Annamalai casts his vote

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.

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. 

MNM chief Kamal Haasan, his actor daughter Shruti Haasan cast vote in Tamil Nadu

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

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."

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."

Early polling scenes from Gulma Tea Garden in North Bengal