Election 2026 highlights: TMC writes to CEC, seeks action against senior poll officers over ‘biased conduct’

• The Election Commission of India posted on X about ensuring the facility of home voting so that every elector can exercise their right to vote. The ECI announced that home voting is underway across Jhargram district in West Bengal, and that the facility will be provided to elderly and PwD (Persons with Disabilities) electors.

• The Election Commission will deploy 2,407 companies of central armed police forces for the first phase of the West Bengal assembly polls on April 23, with the highest number of personnel likely reserved for Murshidabad district, a senior official said on Wednesday.

• West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged central forces tried to search her car when she was travelling to Kolkata airport earlier in the day, PTI news agency reported.

• The Trinamool Congress on Wednesday wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, seeking action against senior poll officers alleging “biased conduct.” It claimed that the officers had issued “illegal” directives targeting TMC leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier today held a roadshow in Tamil Nadu's Kanniyakumari district, and paid tribute to Dr BR Ambedkar in Nagercoil. Modi was accompanied by Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagenthran and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

Election 2026 updates LIVE: Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin on Wednesday took out a march in Salem as part of his election campaign, seeking votes for his DMK-led alliance, PTI news agency reported.

Stalin was accompanied in the procession by the leaders of the DMK-led alliance parties, including DMDK chief Premalatha Vijayakanth and MNM founder Kamal Haasan.

Election 2026 updates LIVE: DMK leader and Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin's son Udhayanidhi on Wednesday pitted the upcoming state elections as an electoral battle between ‘Tamil Nadu team’ and ‘Delhi team.’

“As our leader (M K Stalin) repeatedly says, this assembly election is Delhi vs Tamil Nadu. We must win as the Tamil Nadu team. We must chase away the Delhi team,” PTI news agency cited Udhayanidhi as saying.

Election 2026 updates LIVE: BJP leader Smriti Irani on Wednesday launched the 'Matri Shakti Bharosa Card' while addressing a press conference in Kolkata.

The 'Matri Shakti Bharosa Card' is an initiative by the BJP in West Bengal to provide direct financial assistance of ₹3,000 per month to women. It will work as a direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme, and the cards will be used to enrol women for the monthly support if BJP wins the polls, PTI news agency reported.

Election 2026 updates LIVE: Union home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that While the Election Commission had removed “infiltrators” from the electoral rolls in West Bengal, the larger task would be to make them leave the country.

“While the Election Commission (EC) has only removed infiltrators from the electoral rolls of West Bengal, the larger task would be to drive them out of the country's borders,” Shah said at a gathering at Tufangunj in the Cooch Behar district, PTI news agency reported.

Election 2026 updates LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier today held a roadshow in Tamil Nadu's Kanniyakumari district, and paid tribute to Dr BR Ambedkar in Nagercoil.

Modi was accompanied by Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagenthran and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

Election 2026 updates LIVE: Meanwhile, Samrat Choudhary took oath as the chief minister of Bihar on Wednesday. Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan congratulated Choudhary, and also extended wishes to JD(U)'s Bijendra Yadav and Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, who took oath as deputy CMs.

“Under the guidance of the esteemed Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji and the leadership of Chief Minister Shri @samrat4bjp Ji, Bihar will certainly establish new dimensions in good governance, development, and public service,” Pradhan said in a post on X. “With a firm resolve for the prosperity of farmers, empowerment of women's strength, creation of extensive opportunities for the youth, and the welfare of every section of society, the goal of a 'Developed Bihar' will be realized even more effectively,” he added.

Election 2026 updates LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed an election rally in Nagercoil on Wednesday.

During the poll rally, he said, “We have to vote for better Tamil Nadu, 'viksit' Tamil Nadu.” PM Modi further expressed confidence that the NDA would register victory in the state, while the DMK would lose.

Election 2026 updates LIVE: The Trinamool Congress on Wednesday wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, seeking action against senior poll officers alleging “biased conduct.”

It claimed that the officers had issued “illegal” directives targeting TMC leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee.

The TMC alleged in the complaint that “instructions have been given to police and other observers and CAPF officials to target and search vehicles of TMC leaders and their family members”, PTI news agency reported.

Election 2026 updates LIVE: A Bengali nationalist organisation on Wednesday alleged that the Election Commission has not given the permissio to take out a procession on the occasion of Bengali New Year, describing it as a "grave assault" on the pride and culture of the community.

Election 2026 updates LIVE: Union home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that no graft charges have been levelled against Prime Minister Narendra Modi despite him being in power for 24 years.

“Modi ruled Gujarat for 12 years and is at the helm in the Centre for another 12; yet no corruption charge, involving even a penny, could be levelled against him,” PTI news agency cited Shah as saying at an election rally in Jalpaiguri's Raiganj.

Election 2026 updates LIVE: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged central forces tried to search her car when she was travelling to Kolkata airport earlier in the day, PTI news agency reported.

This comes a day after the TMC alleged that the Election Commission had ordered 'intrusive checks' of vehicles of its leaders. Mamata, while addressing a poll rally here in Uttar Dinajpur district, said, “Central forces tried to check my car when I was going to the Kolkata airport today. If you have the guts, you check my car every day.”

Election 2026 updates LIVE: The Election Commission will deploy 2,407 companies of central armed police forces for the first phase of the West Bengal assembly polls on April 23, with the highest number of personnel likely reserved for Murshidabad district, a senior official said on Wednesday.

Elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held in two phases - on April 23 and April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.

The official said Murshidabad is likely to have the highest deployment with 316 companies of forces, including 240 in Murshidabad police district and 76 in Jangipur.

Murshidabad has been witness to several incidents of violence in recent years, including clashes linked to protests over the Waqf Act and unrest during the NRC agitation.

"Altogether 2,407 companies of central forces are being deployed in the first phase. The allocation has been made following a detailed vulnerability assessment to ensure voters can exercise their franchise without fear," the EC official said.

via PTI

Election 2026 updates LIVE: A Bengali nationalist organisation on Wednesday alleged that the Election Commission has not permitted it to take out a procession on the occasion of Bengali New Year, describing it as a "grave assault" on the pride and culture of the community.

'Bangla Pokkho', however, announced that a rally would be taken out in the evening of April 15 to celebrate 'Nabobarsho' (New Year) in the southern parts of the city, defying the EC's denial.

The permission was not given in consultation with the Kolkata Police, an EC official said, adding that with the model code of conduct being in place, any unauthorised gathering is deemed "illegal".

The model code of conduct is in place as the elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held in two phases - on April 23 and 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.

via PTI

Election 2026 updates LIVE: Bengal LoP and BJP candidate from Nandigram and Bhabanipur constituencies lashed out at the Mamata-led TMC and said, "The public is ready... These people (the TMC) are corrupt brokers who are here to rob Bengal... We are celebrating Bengali New year today. Mamata Banerjee is not celebrating it..."

Election 2026 updates LIVE: In a unique way of campaigning for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly Election 2026, BJP candidate Niladri Shekhar Dana from the Bankura constituency is campaigning on an e-rickshaw.

Along with Dana, a few other people were also seen following the rickshaw while chanting "Bharat Mata Ki Jai."

Dana said that at least 100 volunteers are working with him in the region. He further stated that the campaign is being conducted from 8 am to 9 pm, with door-to-door outreach across the constituency. He added that the entire region is chanting "Modi-Modi," and claimed that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) will be defeated and the BJP will win the election. (ANI)

Election 2026 updates LIVE: BJP leader K Annamalai is confident of NDA's win with huge mandate in Tamil Nadu. “We are confident in Coimbatore and across Tamil Nadu, this time NDA will come to power with a huge mandate. People of Tamil Nadu want change. They want DMK to get out of the government. Across all the places we are campaigning, the response is massive. This time, we expect Edappadi K Palaniswami to become the chief minister of Tamil Nadu with a very huge mandate,” Annamalai said.

Election 2026 updates LIVE: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday raised strong objections to the proposed delimitation exercise, alleging that it is being carried out under the "guise of women's reservation" and could alter the country's political map, while warning of potential unrest in southern states.

Speaking to ANI on the issue of increasing parliamentary seats from 543 to 850, with 815 allocated to states and 35 to Union Territories, Raut said, "Our party's stand is that under the guise of women's reservation, they are trying to change the political map of the country. But in this process, the map of the country will change."

He cautioned about possible political instability in southern states, saying, "The way the southern states have signalled to the Central Government, I fear that under this pretext, a situation like Manipur might arise in the southern states."

(via ANI)

Election 2026 updates LIVE: The Election Commission of India (ECI), on Wednesday, April 15, posted on X about ensuring the facility of home voting so that every elector can exercise their right to vote.

In the post, it said, "Chunav Ka Parv, Paschim Bengal ka Garv!", highlighting the election as a matter of pride for West Bengal. It further stated that democracy is being delivered to the doorstep.

The ECI announced that home voting is underway across Jhargram district in West Bengal, and that the facility will be provided to elderly and PwD (Persons with Disabilities) electors. The step ensures that every voter can cast their vote with dignity and comfort from their homes.

The note concluded by stating that bringing the booth to the voter strengthens inclusive participation.

Election 2026 updates LIVE: The Supreme Court on Monday said that it cannot permit individuals whose appeals against exclusion from the electoral rolls are still pending to vote in the upcoming West Bengal elections, warning that any such direction would create an anomalous situation and disrupt the integrity of the electoral process.

Hearing a batch of petitions challenging the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi underscored that granting voting rights to those whose eligibility remains under adjudication would lead to untenable consequences.

Election 2026 updates LIVE: Like previous elections, cash handouts and freebies are very much at play this time too in Tamil Nadu. LoP E Palaniswami announced that his party would provide free refrigerators to ration card holders and expand the benefits of the free bus travel scheme to include men. The M K Stalin led DMK also timed a cash handout ahead of the election announcement. Read full story here

Election 2026 updates LIVE: : Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday held a meeting with local workers and migrant workers of the North Bengal division in Aradpur, West Bengal, ahead of the upcoming Assembly Elections 2026.

Earlier on Tuesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a roadshow in Kaliyaganj, North Dinajpur, ahead of the upcoming Assembly Elections 2026.

Addressing rallies in the poll-bound state, he targeted the Trinamool Congress government over alleged issues of infiltration and said a BJP government in West Bengal would ensure the allocation of required land to complete fencing with Bangladesh.

Election 2026 updates LIVE: Union Home Minsiter Amit Shah on Wednesday extended his greetings to the people of West Bengal on the occasion of Poila Boishakh, the Bengali New Year, wishing for the state to enter a "new era of development and good governance."

In a post on X, Shah emphasised West Bengal's rich culture and revolutionary heritage for a prosperous future for its citizens.

"Heartfelt best wishes to our sisters and brothers of West Bengal on the occasion of Poila Boishakh. May West Bengal, a land endowed with a rich cultural heritage and literary excellence, and blessed with the sacred history of revolutionaries of the freedom struggle, enter a new era of development, good governance, and welfare in the new year. Wish the people of the state a bright and prosperous future," he posted.

Election 2026 updates LIVE: Welfare, big-ticket transport projects, and religion starred in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s manifesto for the April 23 Tamil Nadu assembly elections released on Monday by Union health minister and the party’s former national president JP Nadda.

The manifesto promises monthly assistance of ₹2,000 to all women heads of households and a one-time sum of ₹10,000 to every household. The BJP’s ally in the state, the AIADMK, the senior partner of the National Democratic Alliance in Tamil Nadu, made a similar promise in its manifesto released on March 24. BJP state president Nainar Nagendra and former state president K Annamalai was also present during the release of the manifesto.