People wait in a queue to cast votes during the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly election, in Nandigram, Purba Medinipur district. Photo: PTI
Assembly elections LIVE: West Bengal sees 90% voter turnout; TN 84%
The voter turnout is among the highest in both states in recent electoral history
Close to 90 per cent of the 3.60 crore electors turned up to vote in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly polls till 5 pm on Thursday, held under the shadow of large-scale name deletions under the SIR exercise, sporadic violence and assault on at least three candidates.
The voter turnout is among the highest in the state's recent electoral history. Polling in 16 districts began at 7 am on Thursday amid tight security to decide the electoral fate of 1,478 candidates, including 167 women, in 152 constituencies of the 294-strong state Assembly.
Long queues outside polling booths reflected strong voter participation in what is being seen as a crucial round in a high-stakes contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP.
The state recorded 89.93 per cent voter turnout till 5 pm, with the Dakshin Dinajpur district leading with 93.12 per cent polling. With voting slated to continue till 6 pm, political observers said the turnout might cross 95 per cent.
The second phase will be held on April 29, when 142 seats in and around Kolkata go to polls.
Tamil Nadu also sees high turnout
Tamil Nadu surpassed its highest assembly polls turnout on Thursday, when over 84 per cent of the 5.73 crore voters cast their vote for the elections to 234 constituencies across the state. Till 6 pm, the state recorded 84.29 per cent voting, according to Election Commission of India (EC) figures. The state recorded its highest--78.29 per cent, in the 2011 polls that the AIADMK swept.
Incidentally, through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the electorate size has been reduced from 6.41 crore recorded in October 2025 to the current 5.73 crore. Consequently, the 2021 polls saw about 6.29 crore people registered, 56 lakh voters more than this year.
On Thursday, Karur district topped with 91.86 per cent voter turnout.
Chennai registered 83.09 per cent polling, while in Madurai it was 80.15 per cent, Coimbatore saw 84.40 per cent and the centrally located Tiruchirappalli district witnessed 85.04 per cent polling. Kolathur Assembly constituency in Chennai, where DMK President and Chief Minister M K Stalin is contesting, saw 85.63 polling till 6 pm.
At Chepauk-Tiruvallikeni, it was 83.58 per cent. Deputy CM and Stalin's son, Udhayanidhi is trying his luck for the second time from this city constituency.
Follow all LIVE updates below:
Live Updates
- 23 April 2026 12:21 PM IST
Adhir Chowdhury says security is tighter, EC role satisfactory
Congress leader and Berhampore candidate Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said security arrangements at polling stations were noticeably stricter this time, as voting progressed in the constituency.
“This time, there is a multi-layered security arrangement,” he said, suggesting that such a deployment would prevent irregularities seen in previous elections. “As a result, things like entering polling booths to cast fake votes or capturing booths will not happen.”
He added that some forms of pressure on voters had not entirely disappeared. “Attempts are still being made to intimidate from outside or from a distance,” Chowdhury said. However, he maintained that direct interference inside booths would be harder. “But the kind of scenes seen in previous elections, where voters are pushed out of booths, will not be possible this time.”
Commenting on the poll panel’s role so far, Chowdhury said the Election Commission’s functioning had been satisfactory based on what he had observed during voting.
- 23 April 2026 12:13 PM IST
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar says peaceful voting in Bengal
Union Minister and BJP Sukanta Majumdar said polling was proceeding without major disruption on Thursday, after he cast his vote in the ongoing Assembly elections.
“I have cast my vote this morning. Voting is taking place peacefully. I congratulate the Election Commission for this,” he said, while urging higher participation. “I appeal to people to come and vote.”
Majumdar described the Election Commission as “very vigilant,” but added that closer attention was still needed in certain districts. “I feel that the Election Commission needs to be even more vigilant in places like Murshidabad,” he said.
Referring to Nandigram, he said, “Peaceful voting is happening in Nandigram as well.” He also expressed confidence about the outcome there, adding that Suvendu Adhikari “is going to win there by a huge margin.”
Polling across parts of West Bengal continued under security deployment, with political leaders monitoring the situation and appealing to voters to participate.
- 23 April 2026 11:57 AM IST
Karti Chidambaram votes in Sivaganga with family
Karti Chidambaram, along with his wife Srinidhi and daughter Aditi, shows his inked finger after casting his vote in Sivaganga.
- 23 April 2026 11:53 AM IST
TN BJP president Nagenthran backs NDA win, downplays Vijay’s poll impact
Nainar Nagenthran, BJP president in Tamil Nadu, cast his vote on Thursday at a polling booth in Tirunelveli as Assembly elections got underway across the state.
Contesting from Sattur, Nagenthran voiced confidence in the National Democratic Alliance’s prospects and urged voters to back his coalition. “Tamil Nadu has become a state where women are shedding tears. The state must recover. Our alliance is contesting the elections with the aim of doing good for the people,” he said, calling for a mandate focused on welfare and a “future free from drugs.”
He added, “Tirunelveli and Sattur constituencies are like my two eyes,” stressing the importance of participation on polling day. Nagenthran also praised Narendra Modi, saying the prime minister “is regarded as a great friend among world leaders.”
Dismissing the electoral impact of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, he said, “Vijay will not be able to create a significant impact; he will only split votes.” He projected a return to power for the alliance and said Edappadi K. Palaniswami would become chief minister.
Polling began amid tight security, with 17.69 per cent turnout recorded at 9 a.m. Votes will be counted on May 4.
- 23 April 2026 11:44 AM IST
By-elections: Umreth leads turnout, Maharashtra trails by 11 AM
Polling in the ongoing state Assembly by-elections saw moderate turnout levels by late morning, with figures varying across constituencies.
According to provisional data, Umreth in Gujarat recorded a voter turnout of 25.65 per cent by 11 am. In Maharashtra, Baramati registered 20.55 per cent, while Rahuri trailed slightly at 18.22 per cent, at the same time.
The early numbers suggest a steady start to voting, with turnout expected to pick up as the day progresses and more voters head to polling stations.
- 23 April 2026 11:40 AM IST
260 complaints filed with EC, 375 via cVigil by 11 AM
The Election Commission had received a steady stream of complaints by late morning, reflecting early friction during polling hours.
According to media reports, officials said that by 11 a.m., a total of 260 complaints had been submitted directly to the Commission’s office. In addition, 375 more complaints were registered through the cVigil app, which allows voters to report violations in real time.
The figures indicate active use of both formal and digital channels for flagging issues as voting progressed.
- 23 April 2026 11:37 AM IST
Suvendu Adhikari says he was denied entry to Nandigram booth
Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition and BJP candidate from Nandigram and Bhabanipur, alleged on polling day that he was prevented from entering a booth in the constituency.
“I was not allowed to enter this polling booth. The common man wants peace,” Adhikari said while speaking to reporters at the site.
He added a warning in Hindi, saying, “Jo shanti todega hum usko todne ka kaam harenge,” indicating that those who disturb peace would be dealt with.
The remarks came amid voting in Nandigram, a constituency that remains politically sensitive and closely watched during the West Bengal Assembly elections.
- 23 April 2026 11:35 AM IST
Watch: Adhir Chowdhury visits Berhampore poll booth during voting
Congress candidate Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, from Berhampore, visits a polling booth at Lipika Memorial Girls School as first-phase voting for the 2026 Assembly elections gets underway.
- 23 April 2026 11:32 AM IST
Watch: BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari inspects vulnerable Nandigram polling booths
Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition and BJP candidate from Nandigram and Bhabanipur, inspects vulnerable polling booths in Nandigram.
- 23 April 2026 11:27 AM IST
A Raja sees strong mandate for DMK Alliance in Tamil Nadu
Senior Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader A. Raja said voting trends reflected public backing for the state government’s record, as polling continued across Tamil Nadu.
“People are casting their votes as an endorsement of the ongoing Dravidian model of governance and the various welfare schemes implemented under it,” Raja said, pointing to what he described as sustained support for the ruling alliance.
He linked that support to Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, saying voters were responding to “political maturity, leadership, and development initiatives,” while also seeking “to prevent fascist forces from gaining ground in Tamil Nadu.”
Raja projected a decisive outcome for the alliance. “DMK alliance would win more than 200 constituencies across Tamil Nadu, and MK Stalin will once again become the chief minister,” he said, expressing confidence in a renewed mandate.
