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

In Gujarat's Umreth bypoll, over 37 pc turnout till 1 pm

A voter turnout of more than 37 per cent was recorded till 1 pm on Thursday in the byelection in the Umreth assembly constituency in Gujarat’s Anand district, polling sources said. 

Voting commenced at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm across 306 polling stations set up in the constituency, officials said.

“A voter turnout of 37.14 per cent has been recorded between 7 am and 1 pm for the byelection to Umreth assembly constituency,” election authorities said in a statement, adding that voting is going on smoothly and that no unwarranted incident has been reported so far.

The bypoll, necessitated following the death of sitting BJP MLA Govind Parmar last month, is seeing a direct contest between BJP's Harshad Govindbhai Parmar and the Congress's Bhrugurajsinh Chauhan.

TVK alleges transport lapses, seeks action against IAS officers

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leader Aadhav Arjuna on Thursday alleged lapses in transport arrangements during polling, claiming they had affected voters trying to reach polling stations.

“I made a complaint against the Principal Secretary of the Government of Tamil Nadu, Chiru IAS; Managing Director, Metropolitan Transport Corporation, Prabhu Shankar, IAS; and Managing Director, State Express Transport Corporation, R Mohan,” he said, outlining the officials named in his complaint.

Arjuna argued that planning had fallen short in the run-up to voting day. “In the last 24 hours, you can see there is no proper plan and execution in the TN Transport Department,” he said, adding that a prior directive had called for adequate arrangements. “Madam Archana Patnaik gave a circular for arranging proper transport and bus facilities because more than a lakh of people reached Chennai 48 hours before.”

He also made political allegations, saying, “The interim CM M. K. Stalin is still controlling some IAS officers… pressuring them to stop all transport facilities.” Calling for action, he said, “We want to suspend these three IAS officers. We need a department inquiry.”

Watch: Phase 1 polling on in Bengal, voter checks tightened

West Bengal Elections 2026 | Bankura: Voting is underway across 152 of the state’s 294 constituencies in Phase 1, with polling teams carrying out detailed verification of voter identities.

At Punisole village in the Onda Assembly constituency, officials are cross-checking names against electoral rolls before allowing entry. Voters wearing burqa or hijab are being verified by polling staff and then permitted to cast their votes, as procedures continue under supervision.

BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul’s car allegedly attacked in Asansol South

Allegations have now surfaced that BJP candidate from Asansol South, Agnimitra Paul, was attacked. Miscreants are accused of attacking her vehicle.

The incident took place in the Hirapur police station area of Asansol South. Most of the rear glass of Agnimitra’s car has been shattered.

The BJP has already lodged a complaint at the Hirapur police station.

Leaders, celebrities vote as Tamil Nadu holds Assembly polls

Top leaders and celebrities of Tamil Nadu cast their votes early in their respective constituencies in the Assembly elections on Thursday. Voting for the state's 234 Assembly constituencies commenced at 7 am.

While Chief Minister M K Stalin, Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, TVK chief Vijay, AMMK chief T T V Dhinakaran voted in Chennai, AIADMK chief and Opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami voted in Salem. MDMK founder Vaiko and his son Durai Vaiko voted in Kalingapatti in Tenkasi district. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram cast his vote in Sivaganga district.

DMK leader Kanimozhi, PMK leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss and DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth were among the leaders who voted in Chennai soon after polling started in the morning. Celebrated music composer Ilaiyaraja, actors Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Ajith Kumar, R Sarathkumar, Radhika Sarathkumar, Dhanush, Vikram, Sivakarthikeyan cast their votes at their respective polling stations. Actor Vijay Sethupathi described voting as a very important task and voted in Chennai.

CPI(M) flags ECI lapses as West Bengal sees largely peaceful poll

CPI(M) state secretary Md Salim said polling in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections was largely calm, even as he pointed to lapses by the Election Commission over isolated incidents of violence.

“Polling so far has been overall peaceful, barring some violence in Birbhum and some parts of Murshidabad. All said and done, ECI's incapability is evident,” Salim told PTI.

He was responding to reports of clashes and allegations of attacks in certain constituencies, including claims that a BJP candidate in Kumarganj in Dakshin Dinajpur district was manhandled. Salim said election authorities and police observers should have been more alert in such cases.

Across the state, voting was marked by scattered incidents of scuffles and tension in a few pockets, prompting the Election Commission to seek detailed reports from affected areas.

Despite this, turnout remained steady. By 11 a.m., over 41 per cent of the 3.60 crore eligible voters had cast their ballots. Polling on Thursday covered 152 constituencies across 16 districts, with 1,478 candidates, including 167 women, in the fray.

Student-built robot greets voters at Coimbatore booth

Voters arriving at a polling station at Government Arts College in Coimbatore were greeted by an unusual presence on election day, a student-built robot offering sweets and guiding people through the voting process.

The robot, developed by a team from the college, is part of an effort to encourage higher participation in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Equipped with voice processing and remote control features, it interacts with voters as they enter the premises.

“Today is election day for Tamil Nadu. So, we are promoting 100% voting through this robot,” said student Vimal Vijayan, who worked on the project. He said the response from voters had been encouraging. “People are giving a great response to this,” he added.

Describing its functions, Vijayan said, “The robot is giving a message - stand in the queue and how to cast a vote.” He noted that two such robots had been deployed at the venue.

“I am passionate about electronics and engineering, robotics technology,” he said.

Newlyweds rush to vote after wedding in Chennai

At a polling booth in Kodambakkam, Chennai, better known as the heart of Tamil Nadu’s film industry, voters waiting in line found their attention drawn not to a celebrity, but to a newly married couple who arrived straight from their wedding ceremony.

Dressed in traditional attire, the groom in a silk veshti and the bride in a silk saree, both still wearing their wedding garlands, the couple stepped into the queue to cast their votes minutes after getting married.

The groom, Sunil, an advocate, said the visit to the polling station came almost immediately after the ceremony. “Because we are rushing against time, as my wife's vote is in Kallakurichi district. After here, we have to go there,” he told PTI Videos, explaining their tight schedule.

He added that the wedding had been planned well before the election dates were announced. “But, despite the scheduling overlap, I wanted to cast my vote, so did my wife. So, immediately after the ceremony, we came to the booth and did our duty as citizens,” Sunil said.

He stressed that voting should be seen not just as a duty, but as a responsibility.

Polling across all 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu began at 7 am on Thursday under security arrangements.

BJP candidate Subhendu Sarkar attacked in Kumarganj, West Bengal

Tension was reported in parts of Kumarganj on Thursday after allegations surfaced that BJP candidate Subhendu Sarkar was attacked during polling hours.

According to local media reports, miscreants attempted to vandalise Sarkar’s vehicle amid the disturbance. The incident followed an earlier confrontation in the morning, when a BJP polling agent was allegedly prevented from taking his position at a booth in the area.

At that time, Sarkar had intervened and chased away those involved, party workers claimed. Later, fresh allegations emerged that the candidate himself came under attack, escalating tensions in the constituency.

Polling in the region continued under security presence, even as rival sides traded accusations over the incidents.

Stalin’s daughter Senthamarai, son-in-law Sabarisan cast votes

Senthamarai Stalin, daughter of M. K. Stalin, and her husband Sabarisan cast their votes at a polling station in the city.