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 9:54 AM IST
Sunetra Pawar casts vote in Baramati, urges high turnout as tribute to Ajit Pawar
Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister and NCP head Sunetra Pawar, contesting the Baramati assembly seat bypoll, cast her vote on Thursday and appealed to electors to turn out in large numbers and support her as a tribute to her late husband Ajit Pawar.
The byelection to the seat located in Pune district was necessitated by the death of then Deputy CM and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar in an air crash on January 28. A total of 23 candidates, including Sunetra Pawar, are in the fray.
"People of Baramati are coming in big numbers to cast their votes. I would not say it is out of enthusiasm, but they are stepping out to fulfil their duty. By doing so, they are paying tribute to Dada (as Ajit Pawar was fondly called)," Sunetra Pawar told reporters.
She noted that the by-election is being held in an emotional atmosphere.
"For the past 60 years, the people of Baramati have supported the Pawar family. This bypoll is taking place in the absence of Ajit Dada, and while casting their votes, people are paying their respects to him," she added.
Ajit Pawar’s 89-year-old mother exercised her franchise at home, the deputy CM said.
- 23 April 2026 9:52 AM IST
Dhinakaran appeals voters to prioritise TN welfare, drug elimination
AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran appealed to voters to prioritise Tamil Nadu's welfare and drug elimination while exercising their franchise on Thursday.
After casting his vote at the Dhamodharapuram Middle School here, he urged the electorate to prioritise Tamil Nadu's welfare, youth development, employment, and the complete elimination of drugs like ganja and heroin, before voting.
He cautioned people against getting misled by false promises and select their leaders wisely. - 23 April 2026 9:52 AM IST
High-profile voters in TN cast votes early
Voting for the Tamil Nadu Assembly election across 234 segments commenced at 7 am on Thursday (April 23) amid tight security with people lining up in front of the polling stations to elect the winner in a three-corner battle comprising the ruling DMK, and its challengers AIADMK and TVK.
CMK chief and incumbent chief minister MK Stalin (Chennai), AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, veteran Congress leader P Chidambaram, former Telangana governor and BJP candidate Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan and NTK top leader Seeman were among the early voters and they cast their votes in Chennai, Salem, Sivaganga and Chennai respectively.
Actors Rajinikanth cast his votes at Stella Maris College. Also, actor-politician and TVK founder Vijay cast his vote at the Vels International School.
Union Minister L Murugan stood in a serpentine queue and cast his vote in Chennai. Similarly, BJP leader Kushbhu along with her filmmaker husband Sundar C voted in the city. Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik voted at Virugambakkam, which falls under Maduravoyal Assembly constituency. - 23 April 2026 9:05 AM IST
Stalin and family vote in Chennai
Tamil Nadu CM and DMK candidate from Kolathur, MK Stalin, his son and Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, and other family members, arrive at a polling station in Chennai to cast their votes. - 23 April 2026 8:41 AM IST
Agnimitra Paul casts her vote
BJP candidate from Asansol South Assembly constituency, Agnimitra Paul shows her inked finger after casting her vote. - 23 April 2026 8:40 AM IST
Kamal Haasan, daughter Shruti Haasan arrive to vote
MNM chief and actor Kamal Haasan, along with his daughter Shruti Haasan, arrive at Alwarpet School to cast their votes. - 23 April 2026 8:39 AM IST
L Murugan casts his vote
Union MoS and BJP candidate from Avinashi, L Murugan casts his vote at a polling station in Koyambedu, Chennai. - 23 April 2026 7:50 AM IST
Voting begins for Baramati, Rahuri assembly bypolls in Maharashtra
Voting is underway in Baramati and Rahuri assembly bypolls in Maharashtra. Polling began at 7 am and will conclude at 6 pm.
Riding a sympathy wave, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, who is contesting from Baramati, has urged voters to support her as a tribute to her late husband Ajit Pawar.
The bypoll has been necessitated by then Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar's death in an air crash on January 28. There are 23 candidates, including Sunetra Pawar, in the fray.
The total number of registered voters in the constituency is 3.84 lakh.
BJP’s Akshay Kardile is in the fray in the Rahuri bypoll. He is pitted against NCP (SP) candidate Govind Mokate and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi’s Santosh Chalke.
The Rahuri seat became vacant after BJP MLA Shivaji Kardile’s death in October last year. Akshay is his son.
Maharashtra assembly has 288 seats. The ruling Mahayuti alliance has 235 seats (BJP-132, Shiv Sena-57, NCP Ajit-41, allies-5), while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi combine has 50 seats (Shiv Sena UBT-20, Congress-16, NCP SP-10, others-4). - 23 April 2026 7:43 AM IST
Seeman casts his vote
NTK Chief Senthamilan Seeman casts his vote at a polling station in Neelankarai.
