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.
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Live Updates
- 23 April 2026 11:25 AM IST
Kanimozhi confident of DMK's return, hits out at BJP, TVK
Senior DMK leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi on Thursday urged voters to weigh the state’s future carefully as polling progressed in Tamil Nadu.
“Think about your future. Think about the future of the state. Think about who will fight for the rights of the state and for the language, what we stand for, and then vote,” she said, framing the election around governance and identity.
She argued that the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam had built its case on delivery. “We have performed well. We have given good governance for 5 years and the schemes have reached people,” Kanimozhi said, adding that voters recognised the party and its allies as defenders of “the state, our language, our culture.”
Expressing confidence in the outcome, she said the DMK would “continue.”
Responding to criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party and TVK, she dismissed the allegations as routine. “If you want to make false accusations again and again, especially on a day when people come to vote, that is politics,” she said.
- 23 April 2026 11:21 AM IST
Warch: A Raja casts vote in Perambalur
A Raja, Deputy General Secretary of the DMK, casts his vote at a polling booth set up at a government high school in Vellore village, Perambalur district, as polling for the 2026 Assembly elections continues.
- 23 April 2026 11:17 AM IST
TMC complains to EC over police postings in Haldia, Nandigram
The Trinamool Congress has levelled fresh allegations against the Election Commission, accusing it of acting with bias in the run-up to polling.
Party leaders claim that in both Haldia and Nandigram, police postings have not been neutral. According to the Trinamool, several officers currently deployed in these areas are known to share “good relations” with Suvendu Adhikari, reported Anandbazar Patrika.
The party further alleges that these officers are functioning under the influence of the Bharatiya Janata Party, rather than operating independently as part of the election machinery.
- 23 April 2026 11:08 AM IST
Watch: BJP president Nainar Nagenthran votes in Tirunelveli
Nainar Nagenthran, Tamil Nadu BJP President and candidate from Sattur, casts his vote at a polling station in Tirunelveli.
- 23 April 2026 11:03 AM IST
TMC cadres shout 'Go back' slogans at Humayun Kabir in Murshidabad
Tension sharpened quickly in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, where Humayun Kabir, now heading the Amjanata Unnayan Party after his suspension from the Trinamool Congress, ran into organised resistance in the Nawda constituency.
At booth 173 in Shivnagar village, within the Nawda police station limits, Trinamool workers and supporters closed in around Kabir, raising “go back” slogans and blocking his movement. The protest is being steered locally by block president Habib Sheikh, with demonstrators at points branding Kabir a “BJP agent.” His vehicle was held in place as the standoff stretched on.
Footage from the spot shows Kabir in a heated exchange with a police officer amid the crowd. Central forces personnel were deployed nearby, holding position as the situation remained charged.
Speaking to NDTV afterwards, Kabir alleged that Trinamool workers were attempting to prevent him from moving through the area.
- 23 April 2026 10:49 AM IST
18.76 pc turnout recorded as Bengal votes in first phase
West Bengal recorded a turnout of 18.76 per cent in the first two hours of voting in the first phase of the assembly polls on Thursday, according to the Election Commission.
Polling started at 7 am in 152 assembly constituencies across 16 districts amid unprecedented security, and till 9 am, 18.76 per cent of 3.60 crore voters exercised their franchise.
The Bankura assembly constituency registered the highest turnout at 22.05 per cent in the first two hours, followed by Samserganj in Murshidabad at 21.85 per cent and Chandrakona in Paschim Medinipur at 21.83 per cent, according to the EC.
Coochbehar Dakshin recorded the lowest turnout at 15.57 per cent, followed by Chanchal in Malda at 15.64 per cent and Harischandrapur at 15.98 per cent.
EVM glitches also disrupted voting at a few places, with officials stating that work was underway to rectify them. Congress's Suri candidate Sanjoy Adhikari alleged he was unable to cast his vote despite reaching his polling station at 7 am due to an EVM glitch.
He said the party has urged the EC to extend the polling hours at the affected booth or consider repolls if the EVM wasn't restored by 10 am.
- 23 April 2026 10:45 AM IST
Over 17 pc voter turnout in TN till 9 am
Polling in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections saw a turnout of over 17 per cent after the first two hours of voting on Thursday.
According to Election Commission figures, polling till 9 am recorded a turnout of 17.51 per cent.
About 1.1 crore voters exercised their franchise till 9 am, the EC said.
Chennai recorded 16.51 per cent polling, Madurai 17.08 per cent, Coimbatore 18.45 per cent, and Tiruchirappalli 17.99 per cent.
At Kolathur Assembly constituency, where Chief Minister M K Stalin is contesting, saw 17.51 polling till 9 am and at Chepauk 15.70 per cent. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin is contesting from Chepauk Assembly constituency.
Similarly, Edappadi constituency recorded 19.04 per cent, where AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami is contesting.
In Trichy East, where TVK chief Vijay is contesting, saw 17.72 per cent polling. - 23 April 2026 10:29 AM IST
EVM glitches disrupt polling in a few places in Bengal
EVM glitches disrupted voting at a few places in West Bengal on Thursday as polling was underway in the first phase of the assembly elections, officials said.
Overnight violence was also reported from some places amid the unprecedented security arrangements made.
In Murshidabad district, polling was halted at booth number 156 in Parsalika Madanmohan Primary School in the Beldanga assembly segment after an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) developed a snag, they said.
At booth number 212 in the Samsherganj assembly constituency, voting did not begin on time because of similar issues. Polling was also delayed at booth number 130 in Kandi, officials added.
In Purba Medinipur, an EVM malfunction was reported in Birulia of the Nandigram assembly constituency.
In Cooch Behar, voting at booth number 229 in Town High School was suspended for nearly an hour before resuming. Polling was also delayed at booth number 231 in Malda district's Habibpur constituency.
In Siliguri in Darjeeling district, polling could not start on time at booth number 26/31 in Margaret School because of a faulty EVM.
Amid the polling process, an elephant roaming near a booth in Jhargram district triggered panic among voters. The animal was spotted outside Jitushol Aanshik Buniyadi Vidyalaya polling station.
Meanwhile, overnight violence was also reported from some districts, before polling began.
In Naoda in Murshidabad, crude bombs were allegedly hurled near Shivnagar Primary School in the night, injuring a woman, officials said.
TMC candidate Sahina Mumtaz Khan, who was nearby, escaped unhurt, they said.
TMC MP Abu Taher Khan alleged Humayun Kabir's Amjanata Unnayan Party was behind the attack.
Police and central forces were deployed in the area, officials said.
"Strong action will be taken. A report has been sought regarding the incident," Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal said.
Tension was also reported from Cooch Behar's Sitalkuchi, which had witnessed violence during the 2021 assembly polls.
A BJP Kisan Morcha leader was allegedly attacked in the night when he was returning home.
The BJP accused TMC supporters of assaulting him and vandalising his motorcycle, while the ruling party denied the charge, calling it a staged incident.
In another incident in Domkal's Raipur village, a CPM worker and his son were allegedly attacked late in the night.
The son sustained serious injuries and was taken to the Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital for treatment, officials said.
Police said they detained a TMC worker in connection with the incident.
- 23 April 2026 10:26 AM IST
EC seeks report on allegation of voter intimidation in Murshidabad's Domkal
The Election Commission has sought a report from officials over allegations that several people were prevented from casting their votes in Murshidabad district's Domkal during the first phase of the West Bengal assembly polls on Thursday, officials said.
Several voters in Domkal alleged that they were threatened and intimidated, with some claiming they were warned of assault if they attempted to reach polling stations.
In Raipur village, under the Domkal Assembly constituency, several people claimed that armed people were staying in the area since early morning, creating an atmosphere of fear.
The allegations were directed at the ruling TMC, though the party did not immediately respond to the charges.
People also alleged that neither the local police nor the central forces were seen in the area early in the morning. However, the situation improved later in the day after a large police contingent, along with central forces, reached the area.
"The Election Commission has sought a report on charges of voter intimidation in Domkal," officials said.
They added that voters were subsequently escorted to polling booths under security cover, and voting resumed in an orderly manner. - 23 April 2026 9:55 AM IST
Take stand against those who want to snatch federal rights: Kharge to voters of TN
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday urged the people of Tamil Nadu to exercise their democratic right to ensure inclusive welfare and take a stand against those who want to "snatch" federal rights.
In a post on X, Kharge said, “Dear brothers and sisters of Tamil Nadu, the fight today is to secure your rights. The fight is to protect federalism, rationality, equality, justice and freedom.
“It is time for you to exercise your Democratic right and take a stand against those who want to snatch your federal rights,” Kharge said.
“It is also to ensure inclusive welfare and retain the ideals of social justice espoused by your icons,” the Congress chief said.
He especially urged the first-time voters to come out in large numbers and vote for the future of Tamil Nadu.
