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

TMC candidate from Sujapur, Malda Sabina Yasmin accuse Central forces of disrupting polls

Trinamool Congress candidate from Sujapur, Sabina Yasmin, on Thursday accused central forces of interfering with the polling process in parts of the constituency.

“The Central Forces are creating problems in a lot of polling booths,” she said, alleging that their actions were slowing down voting. According to Yasmin, security personnel were overstepping their role. “Their work is to maintain law and order, but they are checking ID cards,” she said.

She claimed the checks were affecting voter turnout by causing delays. “Due to this, voting is going slowly. They think that if people remain standing under the Sun for long, they will return without voting,” Yasmin said, suggesting there was an attempt to discourage participation.

“They intend that there should be less voting,” she added, confirming that the party had decided to escalate the matter. “We are filing a complaint.”

The allegations come amid polling in West Bengal, with reports of localised disruptions surfacing from some constituencies.

EVM glitches delay voting in Erode, Namakkal booths

Voting began with brief interruptions at a few polling stations in Tamil Nadu on Thursday morning, as technical issues with EVMs and VVPAT units slowed proceedings, which were later resolved, officials said.

In Erode district, a booth in the Soorampatti area reported a “minor technical glitch” in its EVM, which officials said was fixed without significant delay, allowing polling to resume.

A similar problem was reported in Namakkal district, at a polling station located near the foothills of Kollimalai. There, voting was temporarily halted after the EVM/VVPAT unit became non-functional. Officials replaced the equipment with a standby unit, after which polling continued.

Across the state, voting for the Assembly elections opened at 7 am in all 234 constituencies, with security personnel deployed at polling stations as voters began arriving early in the day.

Tamil Nadu records 56.81 per cent, West Bengal 62.18 per cent polling by 1pm

Tamil Nadu has recorded 56.81 per cent, and West Bengal has recorded 62.18 per cent in the ongoing Assembly elections till 1 pm. 

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury flags EVM glitch at booth 141, seeks urgent fix

Congress candidate Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury flagged disruptions at a polling station on Thursday, raising concerns over repeated malfunctioning of electronic voting machines.

Speaking to an election official over the phone from the site, Chowdhury said, “The EVM at booth 141 has been malfunctioning,” adding that the situation was affecting voters waiting in the heat. “As a result of this, the common voters who are standing under the Sun have to go back home,” he said.

He urged immediate action from authorities. “It depends on you how this situation can be tackled,” Chowdhury told the official, stressing the urgency of intervention. He also referred to concerns raised by polling staff, saying, “It has been alleged by the Presiding Officer that they have been left in a helpless situation.”

Highlighting the extent of the issue, he added, “The EVM here has been changed for the fourth time, and even the changed EVM is also non-functional.”

The incident comes amid voting in the constituency, with complaints over EVM glitches surfacing from parts of the state.

Humayun Kabir alleges TMC attack, targets police officer

Aamjanata Unnayan Party founder Humayun Kabir on Thursday alleged that his vehicle was attacked during poll-related tensions, escalating the war of words with the Trinamool Congress.

“The public will give a reply to TMC. TMC's ‘goondagiri’ will end on 4th May 2026,” Kabir said, linking the incident to the ongoing electoral contest.

Describing the sequence of events, he claimed, “I was suddenly attacked.” Kabir also alleged that when his supporters gathered in response, police intervened against them. “At the time when my people gathered to take action, the police lathi-charged them,” he said.

He went on to target a senior police official, adding, “Additional SP Majeed Khan should be suspended.” Kabir further alleged, “He is the real criminal and TMC ‘dalal’.”

The allegations come amid heightened tensions in parts of Murshidabad during polling, with rival parties trading charges over violence and administrative conduct.

Dayanidhi Maran attacks Centre, calls poll a fight for rights

DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran criticised the Union government on polling day, framing the election as a fight over state rights and identity.

“We have been fighting for our rights. It's a shame that the Union Govt takes away the majority of our financial share, our rights and wants to control us,” he said, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party government of continuing that approach. He added that Chief Minister M. K. Stalin had consistently opposed such policies. “This is a war to protect our language, Tamil, and to protect our motherland - Tamil Nadu,” Maran said, pointing to the state’s economic performance as well.

On voting, he said, “I came and performed my democratic duty,” noting that he had brought his son along to cast his first vote. “First vote makes a world of difference,” he added, expressing optimism about turnout and suggesting it could be significantly higher this time.

Maran also took aim at central agencies, saying, “People of Tamil Nadu will give a fitting reply to Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.”

TMC accuses Humayun Kabir of disrupting polls

TMC’s Nowda block president Sofiuzzaman Saikh on Thursday accused Aamjanata Unnayan Party leader Humayun Kabir of trying to disrupt polling in the area.

“Humayun Kabir is trying to make a mess. On the day of the elections, he came with 15 cars with anti-social criminals and FIR-registered criminals,” Saikh alleged, claiming that Kabir’s supporters were attempting to interfere with the voting process. “He came here to snatch out our polling station agents.”

Saikh described the situation as tense, accusing Kabir of “creating a lot of hooliganism” in Nowda. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the response of the authorities. “We have protested, we have complained, but no satisfactory action has been taken by ECI or the police administration,” he said, adding, “No one is arrested, no one is taken into custody.”

Issuing a warning, Saikh said, “We can't allow him to move freely in Nowda.” He added, “If Humayun roams around, we will prevent him and block him.”

Tamil Nadu records 37.56 per cent, West Bengal 41.11 per cent polling by 11 am

Tamil Nadu has recorded 37.56 per cent polling, and West Bengal has registered 41.11 per cent polling till 11 am, according to the Election Commision. 

Watch: TMC, Aamjanata Unnayan Party clash in Murshidabad

Clashes between the Trinamool Congress and Aamjanata Unnayan Party workers turn violent, with a vehicle belonging to an AUJP worker vandalised.

Clashes in Nawda,Murshidabad, Humayun’s convoy allegedly attacked and blocked

Fresh tension was reported from Nawda in Murshidabad on Thursday, with repeated flare-ups through the morning involving workers of the Trinamool Congress and the Aamjanata Unnayan Party.

According to local media reports, the situation escalated in the Shivnagar area when Aamjanata Unnayan Party leader Humayun attempted to leave the locality. His party alleged that he came under attack during the move. One vehicle in his convoy was damaged, and stones were reportedly thrown at a car used by a polling agent.

Supporters accompanying Humayun also claimed that bamboo poles were placed across the road to stop his vehicle from moving out of the area, effectively blocking his route.

Central forces were deployed at the spot and intervened as the confrontation stretched on. After sustained efforts to disperse the crowd and restore movement, personnel escorted Humayun away from the protest site.