Election 2026 highlights: PM Modi cites devotion for Maa Kali in letter to Bengal voters, Mamata holds roadshow

Election 2026 highlights: While 152 of Bengal's constituencies went to elections on April 23, the remaining 142 seats will vote on April 29, with results scheduled for May 4.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the �Vijay Sankalp rally� for West Bengal Assembly elections, at Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas district. (PMO)

Election 2026 highlights: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held his last rally in West Bengal ahead of the second phase of elections on Wednesday. He exuded confidence of BJP's victory and said the lotus will “surely bloom” in Bengal....Read More

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• 27 Apr 2026, 08:12:45 PM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: This blog is now closed

  This blog is now closed and will not be updated.

• 27 Apr 2026, 08:09:07 PM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee holds roadshow in south Kolkata to end campaign

  Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee undertook a roadshow in south Kolkata spanning over six kilometres on Monday afternoon at the fag end of campaigning for the second and final phase of the West Bengal assembly election.

  The TMC chief was accompanied by party Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose and candidates Aroop Biswas and Debasish Kumar from Tollygunge and Rashbehari, respectively.

  People waiting on the roadside and on rooftops and balconies waved at Banerjee as she greeted them with folded hands, walking briskly, as her party compatriots had a tough time keeping pace with her.

  The chief minister is contesting from the Bhabanipur assembly seat, where she is pitted against her bete noire, Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP, who defeated her in the 2021 elections in Nandigram.

  Banerjee was subsequently elected from Bhabanipur in a byelection.

  The roadshow started at Sukanta Setu in the Jadavpur area and culminated at Gopalnagar crossing, past her Kalighat residence, with two small stopovers in between.

  TMC flags, festoons, cutouts of Banerjee and banners with slogans in favour of the candidates adorned the roadsides through which the road show passed and culminated at around 5.30 pm.

  A large number of TMC supporters participated in the roadshow that Banerjee conducted to end her campaign for the 2026 assembly election in West Bengal.

• 27 Apr 2026, 06:53:26 PM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: Kozhikode DCC chief demands full VVPAT count, alleges poll tampering attempt

  Kozhikode DCC president K Praveen Kumar on Monday demanded that all VVPAT slips in the district be counted, alleging attempts to tamper with the election process.

  The demand comes amid the Congress's recent allegation that the strongroom where EVMs of the Perambra constituency were stored had been opened by the returning officer-a claim denied by the Election Commission and the district administration.

  The election for 140 Assembly seats was held on April 9, and the vote count will be held on May 4.

  "We suspect there is an attempt to tamper with the election process in Kozhikode district. So, we have submitted a petition to the Election Commission seeking the counting of all VVPAT slips in the district," Kumar said.

  Kumar alleged that despite filing a complaint against the returning officer, no action had been taken so far.

  "The district collector is protecting the officer who violated the rules. We have been trying to meet him for two days, but no appointment was given," he said.

• 27 Apr 2026, 06:15:09 PM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: High-octane poll campaign for phase-2 wraps up in Bengal amid charges, counter-charges by BJP, TMC

  Campaigning for the second and final phase of West Bengal Assembly polls ended on Monday amid a fierce political battle dominated by exchanges over SIR, infiltration, corruption and unemployment, with both the BJP and the TMC making a slew of promises to voters across 142 constituencies.

• 27 Apr 2026, 05:43:38 PM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: UP CM Yogi Adityanath says 'break free from TMC's misrule, restore Bengal's glory'

  Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday urged voters in the state to "break free from anarchy and misrule" of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), asserting that the state has an opportunity to restore its past glory.

  Addressing the gathering in North 24 Parganas, CM Yogi said, "This is your opportunity to break free from the anarchy and misrule of TMC, to restore the glory of Bengal."

  Referring to the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, he alleged that opposition parties had attempted to stall the project.

  "Congress, Samajwadi Party and TMC all tried to stop the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, but the double-engine government came, and today a grand temple of Lord Ram has been built in Ayodhya," he said.

  Highlighting governance changes in Uttar Pradesh, the Chief Minister claimed the state had become free from riots, curfews and mafia influence. "Uttar Pradesh has become goon-free, mafia-free. Now there is no curfew or riot in Uttar Pradesh," he said.

• 27 Apr 2026, 05:07:47 PM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: PM Modi's open letter in Bangla

• 27 Apr 2026, 04:52:13 PM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: PM Modi's open letter to people of Bengal before second phase

  Election 2026 LIVE: PM Modi wrote an open letter to West Bengal with just days left for the second phase of elections on April 29.

• 27 Apr 2026, 04:47:24 PM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: 'Will return for BJP's oath-taking after May 4,' Modi tells Bengal

  Election 2026 LIVE: At his last election rally in Bengal before the second phase, PM Modi promised the public that he would return on May 4 as the BJP takes oath.

  "The attachment I have had towards Bengal has been a devotion to Shakti. This has been the energy center of my personal spiritual journey. It has been inspired by Bengal's great personalities and the immense love of the people, the Janata Janardan. The experiences I have had on this land of Bengal, I consider a great blessing upon myself," PM Modi said.

• 27 Apr 2026, 04:30:41 PM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: Liquor worth ₹126.85 crore, drugs worth ₹110.12 crore recovered in Bengal so far

  Election 2026 LIVE: Total seizures of illicit inducements by the Election Commission in West Bengal on Monday surpassed ₹510 crore. The recoveries include ₹30 crore in cash, over 48,000 litres of liquor worth ₹126.85 crore, drugs worth ₹110.12 crore and precious metals worth ₹58. 28 crore.

• 27 Apr 2026, 03:53:25 PM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: Record voter turnout in Bengal in first phase

  Election 2026 LIVE: The first phase of polling on April 23 saw a staggering 92.35% voter turnout across West Bengal and the second phase is scheduled for Wednesday.

• 27 Apr 2026, 03:11:00 PM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: ECI's seized illicit inducements in Bengal cross value of ₹510 crore

  Election 2026 LIVE: The poll panel has seized illicit inducements in West Bengal for the 2026 Assembly polls have crossed ₹510 crore as of April 27, including ₹30 crore in cash, liquor worth ₹126.85 crore (over 48 lakh litres), drugs valued at ₹110.12 crore, precious metals worth ₹58.28 crore, and freebies/other items amounting to ₹184.85 crore, HT has learnt.

• 27 Apr 2026, 03:05:10 PM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: Watch: PM Modi's last roadshow in Bengal ahead of second phase

  Election 2026 LIVE: PM Modi held his last roadshow in West Bengal ahead of the second phase of elections on April 29.

• 27 Apr 2026, 01:57:44 PM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: Bengal Police's flag march in Purba Bardhaman ahead of second phase polling

  Election 2026 LIVE: Police and security personnel in West Bengal's Purba Bardhaman were seen conducting a flag march and interacting with locals ahead of the second phase of polling for West Bengal elections on April 29.

• 27 Apr 2026, 01:35:46 PM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: Yogi Adityanath offers prayers at Tarkeshwar Taraknath temple in Hoogly

  Election 2026 LIVE: UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath offered prayers at Tarkeshwar Taraknath temple in Hoogly district ahead of the second phase Assembly elections in Bengal.

• 27 Apr 2026, 01:18:26 PM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: Kolkata Police advises cops to refrain from violating Model Code of Conduct

  Election 2026 LIVE: The Kolkata Police on Monday issued an order to cops to strictly refrain from posting, sharing, or endorsing any content on social media that may violate the Model of Code of Conduct.

  “One police personnel of Kolkata Police has been placed under suspension pending enquiry into his conduct on social media,” the police said in a tweet, days ahead of the second phase of Bengal elections on April 29.

• 27 Apr 2026, 01:14:10 PM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: PM Modi's ‘Anga, Banga, and Kalinga’ message in Bengal during last rally

  Election 2026 LIVE: In his last Bengal rally, PM Modi said that India's Anga, Banga, and Kalinga—meaning Bihar, Bengal, and Odisha, should be strengthened.

  "In the past, when India was prosperous, it had three strong pillars: Anga, Banga, and Kalinga—meaning Bihar, Bengal, and Odisha... Today, as India moves forward with the goal of becoming developed, for this, Anga, Banga, and Kalinga need to be strong...," PM Modi said.

• 27 Apr 2026, 01:04:10 PM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: ‘Lotus will bloom in Bengal’, says PM Modi in last rally ahead of results

  Election 2026 LIVE: Addressing his last rally in Bengal before the second phase and results soon, PM Modi said he was confident that “lotus will bloom” in the state.

  “Seeing the atmosphere here, it is certain that the lotus (BJP's symbol) will bloom in Bengal this time,” PM Modi said in Barrackpore.

• 27 Apr 2026, 12:54:46 PM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: BJP takes dig at Rahul Gandhi for remark on Mamata Banerjee

  Election 2026 LIVE: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi took a dig at Rahul Gandhi and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday. “…Rahul Gandhi has said that Mamata Banerjee has opened the gateway for BJP. This is what Rahul Gandhi has said, I have not said it…,” Joshi said.

• 27 Apr 2026, 12:36:46 PM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: ‘Trinamool Congress is winning with around 235 seats’, predicts Firhad Hakim

  Election 2026 LIVE: Firhad Hakim, West Bengal Minister and TMC candidate from Kolkata Port Assembly constituency, exuded confidence in the party's chances in the elections. “It is going to be a very big historic victory. Trinamool Congress is winning with around 235 seats, and this time, once Modi ji and Amit Shah ji go, they will not come back to Bengal…,” he said.

• 27 Apr 2026, 12:25:41 PM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: PM Modi holds last rally in Bengal before polls end

  Election 2026 LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed his last rally in West Bengal before the second phase of elections, expressing confidence that the BJP would emerge victorious.

  “This is my last rally in this election. I'm going back with the confidence that I will definitely attend the BJP's swearing-in ceremony after the May 4th results. And that only increases my enthusiasm,” PM Modi said in Barrackpore.

• 27 Apr 2026, 12:05:43 PM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: Yogi Adityanath holds a roadshow in Kalyani, North 24 Parganas

  Election 2026 LIVE: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath is holding a roadshow in Kalyani, in Bengal's North 24 Parganas district in support of BJP candidate Anupam Biswas from Kalyani Assembly constituency.

• 27 Apr 2026, 11:42:41 AM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: ‘Mamata Banerjee has no answer to her corrupt nature’, says Smriti Irani

  Election 2026 LIVE: BJP leader Smriti Irani attacked West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday, alleging she had “no answer to her corrupt nature” in the polls.

  “Answer the fraud of ₹50 lakh at the crematorium in Malda. Answer the reason why cash was found in the homes of Trinamool leaders. Explain why a girl was denied justice in the RG Kar case. Answer the reason why the Trinamool government protected the accused in Sandeshkhali. Discuss the main issues,” Irani said.

• 27 Apr 2026, 11:27:52 AM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: Bengal wants ‘Modi instead of Didi’, says BJP leader ahead of second phase

  Election 2026 LIVE: Ahead of the second phase of Bengal elections on Wednesday, BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain exuded confidence in the BJP's win.

  "The people of Bengal love Prime Minister Modi a lot. Now, people want Prime Minister Modi instead of Didi. Where it used to be Didi-Didi before, now it's Modi-Modi there," he told ANI.

• 27 Apr 2026, 11:13:22 AM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: When will results be out for Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Puducherry, Kerala?

  Election 2026 LIVE: Results of Assembly elections to four states - West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and one union territory, Puducherry, will be announced on May 4.

• 27 Apr 2026, 11:02:18 AM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: ‘Anger of people against Mamata Banerjee visible’, says Bihar BJP chief

  Election 2026 LIVE: BJP Bihar President Sanjay Saraogi on Monday exuded confidence in the party's victory in West Bengal Assembly elections. “The people of Bengal have made up their minds. The way record voting took place in the first phase of elections, the anger of the people against TMC and Mamata Banerjee was visible at the booths. The people of Bengal are fed up with TMC and are looking towards the Prime Minister,” he said, as quoted by news agency ANI.

• 27 Apr 2026, 10:28:01 AM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: Election-themed Sandesh prepared in Kolkata ahead of second phase

  Election 2026 LIVE: Sandesh, a traditional Bengali sweet, got a twist in Kolkata ahead of the second phase of polls on April 29. Special election-themed Sandesh was prepared, featuring poll symbols of various parties.

• 27 Apr 2026, 10:08:24 AM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: North and South 24 Parganas at the heart of Bengal battle

  Election 2026 LIVE: In West Bengal, the twin districts of North 24 Parganas with 33 seats and South 24 Parganas with 31 hold most power in deciding where the political wind sways.

  Along with them, Kolkata's 11 seats and Howrah's 16 make up for nearly one-third of the House. According to a PTI report, the BJP gained mainly in Nadia and North 24 Parganas in the last elections, while South 24 Parganas, Howrah and Kolkata South stayed firmly with the TMC.

• 27 Apr 2026, 10:03:56 AM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: PM Modi shares glimpses from ‘historic’ roadshow in Kolkata

  Election 2026 LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared glimpses of his recent roadshow in Kolkata ahead of second phase of polls in West Bengal. “The mood of the city is making one thing clear... that West Bengal wants change. West Bengal wants BJP,” he said in a tweet.

• 27 Apr 2026, 09:58:17 AM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: Trinamool leader takes ‘outsider’ dig at PM Modi, Amit Shah in Bengal

  Election 2026 LIVE: Trinamool Congress State General Secretary Tanmay Ghosh on Sunday said that 'no outsider', including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, will be seen in West Bengal from 11 am on May 4, the day results will be announced. "We have been saying from day one that TMC will form the government with at least 230 to 250 seats. People's blessings are with the TMC, Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee," he told news agency ANI.

• 27 Apr 2026, 09:51:52 AM IST

  Election 2026 LIVE: Clash between TMC and BJP workers in Bengal's Bhatpara, North 24 Parganas

  Election 2026 LIVE: Violent clashes broke out between Trinamool and BJP supporters in front of the Jagaddal Police Station in Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on Sunday.