Election 2026 highlights: ‘Amit Shah, will I be afraid of you?’ asks MK Stalin ahead of Tamil Nadu elections

Elections 2026 highlights: The 2026 Assembly polls are underway, with Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry having voted on April 9. Tamil Nadu and West Bengal follow on April 23 and 29. All eyes are now on the May 4 counting day to decide the fate of five regions.

Election LIVE 2026: Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin at a Ranipet rally said, “I did not fear Maintenance of Internal Security Act during Emergency, will I be afraid of Amit Shah?” news agency PTI reported.

Election LIVE 2026: Nitin Nabin of the BJP accused M K Stalin-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam of corruption and “insulting” Sanatan traditions, claiming voters want to remove the “one-family rule.” He said an NDA government would restore farmers’ dignity and empower them ahead of the April 23 Tamil Nadu polls.

Election LIVE 2026: The BJP has complained to the Election Commission against Aditi Munshi of the Trinamool Congress, alleging foreign nationals of Nigerian origin joined her campaign. The BJP sought action, including barring her and cancelling visas. Her camp denied it, with Debraj Chakraborty saying they were locals reacting to the rally, not campaign participants. Munshi is the TMC candidate from Rajarhat–Gopalpur.

Election LIVE 2026: Madhuparna Thakur of the Trinamool Congress has declared assets worth ₹55.57 lakh in her 2026 poll affidavit, up by over ₹16 lakh from ₹39 lakh in 2024. It comprises cash, bank deposits, gold (138.62 grams), and immovable properties including land and houses.

She is contesting against her sister-in-law Soma Thakur, who has declared total assets of ₹4.49 lakh. (ANI)

Election LIVE 2026: Nitin Nabin, national president of the BJP, met leaders of the National Democratic Alliance in Thanjavur on April 13 ahead of Tamil Nadu Assembly polls on April 23.

Earlier, he offered prayers at Meenakshi Amman Temple, saying the darshan gives “unique strength and energy.” (ANI)

Election LIVE 2026: In a move reshaping political campaigning in Tamil Nadu, TVK’s Kumbakonam candidate Vinoth Ravi has turned to 3D hologram technology to connect with voters ahead of the April 23 Assembly elections, according to PTI report.

Election LIVE 2026: DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi criticised the BJP government for introducing the NEET exam and the National Education Policy, alleging that they affect Tamil Nadu students and restrict their opportunities. She also accused the AIADMK-BJP alliance, led by Edappadi K Palaniswami, of failing to stand up for the state's rights. (ANI)

Election LIVE 2026: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday claimed that 19 states and the Centre have come together to counter her, and that she is single-handedly fighting for the common people.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance has governments in 19 states of the country.

Addressing a rally at Suri in Birbhum district, the TMC supremo said the BJP won't be able to win the West Bengal elections using forces from Delhi.

"The Trinamool Congress will secure over 226 seats in the West Bengal assembly elections," she said. (PTI)

Election LIVE 2026: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman hit back at MK Stalin, accusing him of creating 'false narratives' over the Centre’s advisory on bonuses for wheat and paddy farmers. She said the DMK was trying to project itself as a protector of farmers and Tamil interests.

In a post on X, Sitharaman alleged that Stalin misinterpreted the January 9 letter sent by Expenditure Secretary V Vualnam to all states.

She added that while most state governments—cutting across party lines—understood the intent and responded in the spirit of cooperative federalism, Stalin chose to “sensationalise” the issue.

Election LIVE 2026: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma the most corrupt in the country. In a post on X, he said Biswa will not escape the law. Rahul added that Congress party stands with Pawan Khera and that they will not be intimidated.

"The questions that are being raised have to be probed. Transparency, accountability of power and rule of law are the basis of our Constitutional values," Rahul said in a pot on X.

Election LIVE 2026: Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday lambasted CM Mamata Banerjee, accusing the TMC government of failing to ensure women's safety in the state.

Addressing a public rally at Palli Mangal Club Ground in Mayureshwar, Shah slammed Banerjee's remarks advising women not to step out after 7 PM, following the RG Kar rape case. (ANI)

Election LIVE 2026: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) candidate from Dindigul constituency IP Senthil Kumar on Sunday reaffirmed the state's firm stance on the two-language policy, asserting that Tamil Nadu will continue to resist the imposition of a three-language formula on students.

Speaking to ANI, Kumar said, "For Tamil Nadu, the two-language policy alone is appropriate. The three-language policy is not suitable for the state. It is being imposed on Tamil Nadu students, but the state will not accept it."

Kumar also launched a sharp attack on the opposition, asserting that the ground reality in the Dindigul constituency heavily favours the ruling party due to the successful implementation of the Chief Minister's welfare schemes. (ANI)

Election LIVE 2026: BJP leader K Annamalai on Monday exuded confidence in the National Democratic Alliance's victory in the forthcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and stressed that after winning the polls, a Detailed Project Report will be formed to bring Metro projects to Madurai and Coimbatore.

"After May 4, once the NDA comes to power, we will prepare a proper Detailed Project Report (DPR) and bring metro projects to Madurai and Coimbatore and deliver them to the people," he said.

Spekaing at a press conference, Annamalai alleged that people should understand the reality of DMK, underlining that the husband of the party candidate from Thiruparankundram Assembly constituency is facing POCSO charges.

"In Thiruparankundram, the husband of the DMK candidate contesting against Rajan Chellappa is facing cases under the POCSO Act as well as sexual assault charges. The public must be made aware of this. People should clearly understand what kind of candidate the DMK has fielded, what kind of person her husband is, and what cases are pending against him, and then cast their votes accordingly," he said.

The BJP leader noted that an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is being established to serve the people, and the hospital will soon be available for public use. (ANI)

Election LIVE 2026: Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Monday said the AIADMK-led NDA will make the state "retrogressive" if they are voted to power and appealed to the people to be wise in choosing the DMK combine to sustain the pace of growth.

He said the people should reject the AIADMK in the Assembly election as it had "conspired" to halt the monthly entitlement scheme for women heads of families.

"Prove in this election that the AIADMK and its ally the BJP have no space in Tamil Nadu. Annihilate them in the polls, and wisely choose the DMK to sustain the pace of growth in the state," the DMK youth wing secretary said while addressing a poll campaign here in support of party candidates: Lakshmanan for Villupuram and Gowtham Dravidamani, who is contesting from Vanur Assembly constituency.

He said the DMK would launch the ₹8,000 coupon scheme for homemakers immediately after it formed the government.

"During the previous election we won four out of seven seats in this district. Ensure we secure all the seven assembly constituencies this time," Udhayanidhi urged.

Elections to 234 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu will be held on April 23. (PTI)

Election LIVE 2026: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday said that the Centre had asked the state to review its existing bonus policy and consider discontinuing it on paddy and asked Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman whether she was willing to place the letter in this regard in public domain.

Sitharaman, however, said the chief minister's allegation that the union government directed Tamil Nadu not to provide incentives for paddy cultivation "is factually baseless, politically motivated, and a deliberate distortion designed to mislead the farmers of Tamil Nadu."

What was communicated to all state Chief Secretaries - not just Tamil Nadu - was a suggestion to align state bonus policies with national priorities, she said in a post on 'X' citing the letter dated January 9, 2026, asking the states to align their bonus policy to promote pulses, oilseeds and millets, in line with the national priorities for nutritional security, Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) and sustainable agriculture.

"The letter was an advisory to states and was not a directive," she said.

Sitharaman also took exception to Stalin's recent speech referring to a letter issued by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance with regard to the bonus provided by state governments and insisted that the said letter from the Union Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, to all state Chief Secretaries was to "align their bonus policy to promote pulses, oilseeds and millets, in line with the national priorities for nutritional security, Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) and sustainable agriculture." (PTI)

Election LIVE 2026: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has announced that his party has severed ties with the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AUJP) led by Humayun Kabir.

While speaking to reporters, Owaisi stated, "We have left them now. We have no connection with his party now..."

The announcement follows a "sting video" posted on X by the TMC, in which the AJUP chief purportedly said that he had struck a deal of " ₹1,000 crore".

AIMIM said that it raised concerns regarding the "integrity of Muslims". It must be noted that Kabir, however, denied the allegations, claiming that the video is AI-generated. (ANI)

Election LIVE 2026: BJP MP Manoj Tiwari will attend five election campaign programs in West Bengal today ahead of the Assembly elections 2026.

The BJP MP will hold a road show from Pincol More to Babughat, a roadshow and meeting from GulMohar to Nandibgan, a public meeting at Naihati, a rally and road show at Belgachia, and a campaign event at Howrah Uttar (GulMohar).

The visit comes as high-stakes campaigning intensifies for the polling of the 294-member West Bengal Assembly, which will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4.

Taking it to X, Manoj Tiwari wrote, "Today, I will participate in 5 campaign programs in West Bengal, including a public meeting and a road show."

"Tomorrow morning in Delhi, Dehradun 709 BC, I will welcome all of you at the inauguration ceremony by the Prime Minister," he added on X. (ANI)

Election LIVE 2026: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Nitin Nabin on Monday offered prayers at the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, ahead of assembly elections.

Speaking to the media, Nabin said that having darshan of Goddess Meenakshi brings "unique strength and energy," adding that India's spiritual traditions continue to inspire thoughts, ideals and actions while wishing prosperity for all citizens.

He said, "Having darshan of Goddess Meenakshi, and given its history's unique place in Indian history, certainly brings a unique strength and energy... The place of our Hindu deities is reflected in our thoughts, our ideals, and our actions." (ANI)

Election LIVE 2026: After offering prayers at the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, BJP's national president Nitin Nabin spoke to the media and said, "Having darshan of Goddess Meenakshi, and given its history's unique place in Indian history, certainly brings a unique strength and energy... The place of our Hindu deities is reflected in our thoughts, our ideals, and our actions."

He added: "I wish that all the people of Tamil Nadu and the entire country may have good luck and prosperity in their homes. Indians are proud that our history has contained such things that inspire our spiritual resolve to move forward," he said.

Tamil Nadu polls are scheduled to be conducted in a single phase on April 23, with counting scheduled for May 4.

Election LIVE 2026: BJP spokesperson NV Subhash on Monday criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her "two-headed cobra" remark against the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), saying that such remarks come out of frustration and are not surprising at all.

Speaking to ANI, he slammed TMC and Congress, saying that both are sure about the victory of the BJP and NDA in the upcoming Assembly elections scheduled to be held in two phases on April 23 and 29.

Election LIVE 2026: The Opposition Indian National Congress has moved the Supreme Court against the cancellation of the Ponda Assembly bypoll in Goa, party leader Girish Chodankar said on Monday.

Ketan Bhatikar, the party’s candidate for the seat, has filed a Special Leave Petition challenging the Bombay High Court’s order that set aside the by-election, Chodankar told PTI.

Election LIVE 2026: BJP MP Manoj Tiwari will attend five election campaign programs in West Bengal today ahead of the Assembly elections 2026.

The BJP MP will hold a road show from Pincol More to Babughat, a roadshow and meeting from GulMohar to Nandibgan, a public meeting at Naihati, a rally and road show at Belgachia, and a campaign event at Howrah Uttar (GulMohar). (ANI)

Election LIVE 2026: Ahead of the high-stakes Tamil Nadu assembly elections, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader and former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) speaks to HT on a range of critical issues shaping the 2026 polls.

Election LIVE 2026: Modi said that after speaking with ‘hardworking’ BJP karyakartas, he got a sense that a big victory awaits party in West Bengal elections.