Assembly elections LIVE: West Bengal sees 90% voter turnout; TN 84%

Bengal polls: LoP predicts BJP win in 125 seats in first phase alone

Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday predicted that the saffron party will win 125 of the 152 seats that went to polls in the first phase of the West Bengal elections, citing high voter turnout of 91.78 per cent.

Speaking to reporters after the conclusion of polling in the first phase, the leader of the opposition and BJP candidate from Nandigram and Bhabanipur seats expressed confidence that the party is set for a decisive mandate in the 2026 assembly polls.

He credited the Election Commission with ensuring an orderly voting process. "The BJP would secure around 125 seats in this phase alone," Adhikari said.

A total of 91.87 per cent of the 3.6 crore voters exercised their franchise in the first phase of the polls in 16 districts across north Bengal and large parts of south Bengal during the day.

Adhikari also touched upon voting patterns, suggesting that while minority votes appeared consolidated with a heavy anti-incumbency trend against the ruling party in the state, "it will be seen when results are out that a substantial majority of Hindu voters -- close to 85 per cent -- are with the BJP." He said the party's prospects remain strong in the second phase, adding that the key challenge lies in curbing "intimidation by ruling party workers".

Over 59 pc voter turnout recorded in Gujarat's Umreth assembly bypoll

A voter turnout of 59.04 per cent was recorded in the bypoll to the Umreth assembly seat in Gujarat's Anand district on Thursday, officials said.

The bypoll, necessitated following the death of sitting BJP MLA Govind Parmar last month, witnessed a direct contest between BJP candidate Harshad Govindbhai Parmar and Congress nominee Bhrugurajsinh Chauhan. Three Independents and a candidate from a lesser-known party were also in the fray.

The Umreth assembly seat recorded a provisional voter turnout of 59.04 per cent in the by-election, data shared by poll authorities said.

Voting took place in a peaceful manner and no untoward incident took place during the day, they said.

Polling commenced at 7 am and ended at 6 pm across 306 polling stations set up in the constituency, a release by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) for Gujarat said.

Both the key candidates exercised their franchise in the morning and expressed confidence of winning the elections.

A total of 2,45,623 voters were eligible to exercise their franchise in the by-election, conducted with the help of 1,500 personnel, the release said.

Tamil Nadu records 85.05% voter turnout at 6 pm, final figures awaited

Tamil Nadu witnessed a record voter turnout of over 85 per cent on Thursday during elections to 234 Assembly constituencies in a three-cornered electoral battle involving the ruling DMK, AIADMK and new entrant, actor-politician Vijay-led TVK.

Polling passed off peacefully without any major incidents. Both DMK and AIADMK exuded confidence of winning.

Responding to the new voter turnout, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said: "Highest-ever percentage of polling in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu since independence. The ECI salutes each voter of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu." Election officials indicated that the numbers were still being consolidated and that the final voting percentage might increase.

Though the turnout is considered historic, ruling DMK sources said the polling should reach between 88 and 90 per cent to be tagged as "unprecedented or historic" polling.

Every Assembly election since 2001 has seen an increase of at least 30 lakh votes, sources claimed. At 6 pm, when voting ended, 85.05 per cent of the 5.73 crore eligible voters, which was approximately 4.87 crore, exercised their franchise.

BJP attributes surge in voter turnout in Tamil Nadu to SIR

Attributing the surge in voter turnout to the Election Commission’s reforms, BJP leader Narayanan Thirupathy on Thursday stated that the high polling percentage across Tamil Nadu reflects a robust democratic spirit and signals a confident path to victory for the NDA.

"Full credit to SIR (Special Intensive Revision) of electoral roll. Hats off to the Election Commission of India. We have seen in Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Kerala and now Pondicherry and now in Tamil Nadu. So, full credit to them," Thirupathy told PTI Videos.

He added that those who previously opposed these reforms should now feel "ashamed" as citizens exercised their right to vote in "large, large, large numbers".

While expressing optimism about "giving a good governance", the BJP leader alleged that the ruling DMK has resorted to widespread malpractice due to a "fear of defeat". He claimed that "money also flowed like a river and violence also equal to that of money".

"Winning or losing is part of life, part of the game. But these people want money, they want power," he said.

Watch: Stones thrown at CRPF in Birbhum’s Dubrajpur area

In Khairasol Ghumar village of Dubrajpur in Birbhum district, a crowd pelts stones at personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force deployed at the polling site.

TN turnout at 82.24 per cent, Bengal phase 1 records 89.93 per cent

Tamil Nadu has recorded 82.24 per cent voter turnout, while the figure stands at 89.93 per cent for West Bengal (phase 1) in the ongoing Assembly elections. 

Brisk voting in TN hints at NDA win, says PMK leader Anbumani

PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss on Thursday claimed that as the voting proceeds briskly, it indicates signs of change in the government in Tamil Nadu and a victory for the AIADMK-led NDA.

The BJP, PMK, and AMMK were also part of the state's Opposition alliance. "A massive victory for the PMK, the AIADMK, and other alliance partners has become a certainty", he said in a statement.

"Ten months ago, when I started the "Journey to Reclaim the Rights of the Tamil People", I stated that a wave of discontent against the ruling regime was already brewing in Tamil Nadu", Anbumanu said.

"I predicted that this wave would intensify in the coming months, eventually transforming into a tsunami-like force during the elections that would sweep the current government out of power. That is precisely what is unfolding today," he said.

First-time voters weigh promises against reality

Young voters share their views on politics, campaign promises, and the gap between what is said and what they actually experience on the ground.

Watch: PMK's Sowmiya Anbumani votes in Dharmapuri constituency

PMK candidate Sowmiya Anbumani casts her vote at Karnataka Sangh Higher Secondary School in Dharmapuri during the 2026 Assembly elections. Polling is being held in a single phase across Tamil Nadu, with counting scheduled for May 4.

Braille EVMs aid visually impaired voters in Srirangam

Special arrangements in the Srirangam Assembly constituency are enabling visually impaired voters to take part in polling with greater independence. EVMs fitted with Braille features allow voters to navigate the process on their own, while those who need assistance are permitted to be accompanied by a helper.

A visually impaired voter, Chandrasekaran, said, “We came to this polling station to cast our votes,” noting that participation had not always been certain. “A few months ago, we had decided to boycott the election due to the lack of basic facilities,” he said, pointing to earlier concerns.

He added that improvements had influenced their decision. “However, based on the assurances given by the officials, we have now exercised our democratic duty by casting our votes in this election,” Chandrasekaran said, welcoming the changes.

“We express our gratitude to the Election Commission for making these arrangements,” he added, as polling continued with accessible provisions in place.