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

BJP's Nisith Pramanik dees ‘festive’ turnout, targets TMC

BJP candidate from Mathabhanga, West Bengal, Nisith Pramanik, on Thursday, described a strong voter turnout and upbeat mood in his constituency as polling progressed.

“The way there's a festive atmosphere and enthusiasm among the people, I've never seen such excitement among ordinary voters in any previous election,” he said, adding that even migrant workers had returned to cast their ballots. “Even those who had migrated from here for employment have returned to vote,” he noted.

Pramanik linked the turnout to broader political expectations. “There's tremendous enthusiasm among all the people, which shows that people want Ram Rajya. They want to see a new dawn, a new sunrise in Bengal,” he said.

At the same time, he accused the Trinamool Congress of fomenting unrest. “Wherever TMC is, there's violence. TMC isn't able to win properly, so it's resorting to other means,” he alleged.

He also remarked on poll management, saying, “Compared to last time, the Election Commission has controlled the situation much better this time.”

TMC’s Nandigram candidate alleges attack on polling agents

Trinamool Congress candidate from Nandigram, Pabitra Kar, on Thursday alleged that BJP supporters attacked his party’s polling agents during voting.

“The polling agents had stepped out, that's when BJP goons attacked them,” Kar said, describing the incident. He indicated that the party would take up the matter with election authorities. “A complaint will definitely be filed,” he said.

Reiterating the party’s position, Kar added, “We will certainly lodge a complaint,” as tensions continued in parts of the constituency during polling.

BJP Kumarganj candidate alleges attack, booth agent ouster by TMC

BJP candidate Subhendu Sarkar from Kumarganj, West Bengal, on Thursday alleged that he was injured and his vehicle damaged during an attack in his constituency amid the first-phase polling.

Sarkar said the trouble began with disruptions at several booths. “In the Kumarganj Assembly constituency, our polling agents in 8-10 polling stations were forcibly removed,” he said, adding that he intervened to have them reinstated. According to him, the situation escalated when he visited a booth. “When I visited Booth No. 24 to inspect the situation on the ground, they launched an attack on my entire team and me; they were clearly intent on creating an atmosphere of intimidation and fear...”

He also questioned the role of security forces. “Central Forces were present at the polling station itself--they were inside the premises. But when I arrived on the scene, I was accompanied only by my bodyguard; there was no one else with us,” he said.

Blaming the ruling party, Sarkar added, “Mamata Banerjee has lost the election… Out of sheer desperation and fear, they launched an attack on us.”

The allegations come amid reports of clashes in parts of the state during polling.

TN poll day mix: Glitches, protests, clashes and curiosities

Polling day in Tamil Nadu unfolded with a mix of odd moments, quiet determination and flashes of tension across the state’s 234 constituencies.

At one booth, AIADMK leader and former minister Dindigul C Srinivasan drew attention after reportedly pressing the ‘red light’ on the EVM instead of the voting button, before officials guided him to complete the process. In several districts including Coimbatore, Vellore and Dharmapuri, a robot named “Robo Tina,” styled like a young girl, greeted voters with flowers and chocolates.

Many travelled long distances to vote, returning from cities and even abroad, including Singapore. In Namakkal, a woman said to be 110 years old, Mariaayi, cast her vote and recalled having seen leaders from CN Annadurai to MG Ramachandran. Elsewhere in the district, a bedridden woman was brought in an ambulance, while others with health issues arrived in wheelchairs.

Access challenges were met with improvisation. In Kanyakumari, boats ferried villagers across the Pechiparai dam to polling stations. Yet protests also marked the day. Villagers in Pudukottai boycotted voting over an unresolved contamination incident, while in Nanguneri, a polling station saw no votes for hours in protest over a double murder case. Near Ettayapuram, turnout remained negligible amid a local dispute.

There were scattered clashes between rival booth agents in places like Madurai and Tiruvannamalai, and tension in parts of Salem. In Chennai, a voter alleged her name had been removed despite completing formalities. In Tirupattur, a supporter who filmed himself voting was arrested.

Amid all this, newly married couples in wedding attire turned up at polling stations in cities including Chennai and Kanchipuram, adding a striking visual to a day shaped as much by civic duty as by friction and spectacle.

Migrant rush home for Bengal polls, transport delays threaten votes

CRPF uses mild force to disperse crowd in Siliguri, West Bengal

Central Reserve Police Force personnel disperse a crowd near a polling station in Dangipara, in West Bengal's Siliguri, using mild force to clear the area.

TN turnout hits 70 per cent, Bengal phase 1 at 78.77 per cent

Tamil Nadu has recorded 70 per cent voter turnout, and the figure in West Bengal (first phase) stands at 78.77 per cent in the ongoing Assembly elections. 

Agnimitra Paul alleges her aide was injured in an attack her car

BJP candidate from Asansol South, Agnimitra Paul, alleged that her vehicle was attacked while she was visiting a locality during polling.

“My car was attacked and vandalised,” Paul said, describing the incident. She said the attack took place in Rahmat Nagar, where, according to her, “a large boulder was thrown onto my car.” The impact caused extensive damage. “The entire back of the car was destroyed, and the glass was completely shattered,” she said.

Paul added that she and her security personnel escaped without injury. “By God's grace, neither my security personnel nor I was hurt,” she said, noting that her secretary, who was seated in the rear, "was slightly injured.”

Calling the incident unacceptable, she said, “This cannot be tolerated, as this kind of incident keeps happening,” and added, “You can easily understand who is behind this and who has good relations with the minority...”

TVK seeks 2-hour poll extension over traffic jams

TVK general secretary N Anand on Thursday sought an extension of polling hours, citing severe congestion in parts of the Chennai metropolitan region.

“We are asking for an extension for two hours (for voting),” Anand said, pointing to long delays faced by voters. “You see, it's a full traffic jam in Guduvanchery, Chengalpattu,” he added, arguing that many people could miss their chance to vote due to the situation.

He said the matter had been taken up with the state’s top election official. “Madam told me that she will discuss and then make a decision,” Anand said, referring to Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik.

Reiterating the demand, he added, “We are asking for two hours, up to eight,” suggesting polling should continue beyond the scheduled closing time.

Anand also raised concerns about administrative functioning during the election, saying, “We also wanted to have an inquiry on 3 IAS officers,” without elaborating on the specific grounds.

Leaders, film stars turn out early to vote in Tamil Nadu

Polling for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections began at 7 am on Thursday, with a steady stream of political leaders and film personalities turning up early at booths across the state.

Chief Minister M. K. Stalin cast his vote in Chennai, as did Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin. Actor-turned-politician Vijay also voted in the city, along with AMMK leader T. T. V. Dhinakaran.

AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami voted in Salem, while MDMK founder Vaiko and his son Durai Vaiko cast their ballots in Tenkasi district. Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram voted in Sivaganga.

Among others, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss and DMDK’s Premalatha Vijayakanth were seen voting early in the day.

Several actors, including Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Ajith Kumar and Dhanush, also cast their votes. Actor Vijay Sethupathi called voting “a very important task” after casting his ballot in Chennai.

Ministers and other public figures were seen voting across constituencies as polling progressed.