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West Bengal Phase 1 Voting Starts Today With 152 Seats at Stake in TMC vs BJP Fight

West Bengal Phase 1 Voting Starts Today With 152 Seats at Stake in TMC vs BJP Fight

West Bengal goes to the polls for Phase 1 of the 2026 Legislative Assembly elections on Thursday, April 23, with voting across 152 seats. The exercise spans 16 districts, including entire North Bengal and parts of South Bengal, along with Jangalmahal belts such as Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram, and Paschim Medinipur. Campaign fever runs high for the TMC versus BJP contest.

Summarised by Beize from a story on Republic on 24 Apr 2026
Tamil Nadu votes today with record first time voters and a shot at 2011 turnout peak

Tamil Nadu votes today with record first time voters and a shot at 2011 turnout peak

Tamil Nadu is voting in its Assembly elections with over 5.73 crore eligible voters, including a record 14.6 lakh first time voters. Women are expected to form the majority again, continuing a pattern since 2016. With heavy security and logistics for all 234 seats, the focus is whether turnout can beat the 2011 peak.

Summarised by Beize from a story on The Economic Times on 24 Apr 2026

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West Bengal polls hit EVM glitches and violence as voting begins amid chaos

West Bengal polls hit EVM glitches and violence as voting begins amid chaos

West Bengal assembly voting began but faced immediate disruption as EVM glitches delayed polling at stations across districts including Murshidabad, Purba Medinipur, Cooch Behar, Malda, and Darjeeling. Overnight, reports of violence emerged, including crude bomb hurling and attacks on political workers. Security forces have been deployed as authorities respond to the incidents.

Summarised by Beize from a story on The Economic Times on 24 Apr 2026
Modi praises bumper West Bengal turnout as young voters and women turn out in force

Modi praises bumper West Bengal turnout as young voters and women turn out in force

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the high voter turnout in West Bengal’s first phase of assembly elections, highlighting strong participation from young voters and women. He credited the Election Commission for conducting polling that was largely peaceful. Modi also suggested that the turnout reflects voters’ desire for change in the state, framing it as momentum going into subsequent phases.

Summarised by Beize from a story on The Economic Times on 24 Apr 2026
West Bengal voters hit 92 point 72 turnout a 15 year high as polling stays tense

West Bengal voters hit 92 point 72 turnout a 15 year high as polling stays tense

West Bengal’s Assembly election saw a historic voter turnout of 92.72%, the highest in 15 years. While sporadic unrest including stone-throwing was reported, polling continued with resilience. The Election Commission of India ramped up security across key constituencies, where high-profile contests drew intense attention from voters statewide.

Summarised by Beize from a story on The Economic Times on 24 Apr 2026
EC tightens West Bengal poll rules SD cards stay locked until cameras are dismantled

EC tightens West Bengal poll rules SD cards stay locked until cameras are dismantled

The Election Commission has issued fresh post-poll guidelines for West Bengal’s assembly elections, directing that SD cards from polling booth cameras will not be removed immediately. Instead, cameras must be dismantled under sector officer supervision while video footage is preserved securely. Polling party members and BLOs must remain until dismounting is completed, and a webcasting trial begins Friday for the second phase.

Summarised by Beize from a story on The Economic Times on 24 Apr 2026

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West Bengal Phase 1 Polls Begin as Suvendu Adhikari Questions Voter Lists

West Bengal Phase 1 Polls Begin as Suvendu Adhikari Questions Voter Lists

Polling has started in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu for their upcoming Assembly elections. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari asked for peaceful voting in West Bengal, while also raising concerns about the integrity of voter lists. Elections are being held for 294 West Bengal seats and 234 Tamil Nadu seats, with vote counting set for May 4.

Summarised by Beize from a story on The Economic Times on 24 Apr 2026
TVK chief Vijay asks EC to extend Tamil Nadu polling until 8 PM

TVK chief Vijay asks EC to extend Tamil Nadu polling until 8 PM

Tamil Nadu Assembly polls are underway, but TVK chief Vijay has urged the Election Commission to extend voting by two hours, until 8 PM. Citing long queues and slow polling that may discourage voters, he also asked for emergency public transport and stronger supervision at booths to keep the process moving smoothly.

Summarised by Beize from a story on The Economic Times on 24 Apr 2026
Election Commission suspends Hingalganj OC amid partisan bias allegations in West Bengal

Election Commission suspends Hingalganj OC amid partisan bias allegations in West Bengal

The Election Commission of India has ordered the suspension of Sandip Sarkar, Officer-in-Charge of Hingalganj police station in North 24 Parganas, over allegations of partisan behavior and a suspected nexus with local elements. The EC has initiated disciplinary proceedings, demanded immediate compliance, and proposed filling the vacant post.

Summarised by Beize from a story on The Economic Times on 24 Apr 2026
Tamil Nadu Election 2026 Celebs Including Rajinikanth Cast Votes in Phase One Polling

Tamil Nadu Election 2026 Celebs Including Rajinikanth Cast Votes in Phase One Polling

Tamil Nadu and West Bengal began phase one polling amid tight security as voters headed to booths for Assembly elections. In Tamil Nadu, voting runs in a single phase today, ending at 6:00 pm. West Bengal also votes today for Phase 1, with a second phase scheduled for April 29. Celebrities turned out as well, drawing attention across the states.

Summarised by Beize from a story on Republic on 24 Apr 2026

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Bengal votes surge in first hours beating 2024 Lok Sabha pace as clashes and glitches hit

Bengal votes surge in first hours beating 2024 Lok Sabha pace as clashes and glitches hit

West Bengal’s Assembly elections are drawing heavy voter participation in the early hours, outpacing the turnout pace seen in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Voting is underway across multiple regions, including high-stakes contests involving prominent leaders. Still, reports of violence and technical glitches are emerging. The campaign debate is increasingly centered on electoral roll revisions, unemployment, and corruption claims tied to jobs.

Summarised by Beize from a story on The Economic Times on 24 Apr 2026
Bengal polls first phase goes live from rival war rooms as Mamata and Shah track booths in real time

Bengal polls first phase goes live from rival war rooms as Mamata and Shah track booths in real time

In West Bengal’s first assembly election phase, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Union Minister Amit Shah reportedly led rival war rooms, using real-time voting updates and booth-level feedback to steer ground strategy. The day saw sporadic violence alongside high turnout, underscoring how tightly both sides adjusted responses from their command centres as the high-stakes contest unfolded.

Summarised by Beize from a story on The Economic Times on 24 Apr 2026
West Bengal first phase polling underway for 152 seats with 3.6 crore voters

West Bengal first phase polling underway for 152 seats with 3.6 crore voters

Voting is underway in West Bengal’s first phase for 152 Assembly constituencies, with more than 3.60 crore eligible voters. Security has been intensified with extensive central forces across sensitive areas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Governor C. V. Ananda Bose urged citizens to vote. The phase is widely seen as pivotal for BJP and TMC as major leaders are in the fray.

Summarised by Beize from a story on The Economic Times on 24 Apr 2026
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury attacks Mamata over voter list issues and vows Congress fight all seats alone

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury attacks Mamata over voter list issues and vows Congress fight all seats alone

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury sharply criticized Mamata Banerjee over voter list-related problems, arguing the situation wouldn’t be so complex if she had worked with the ECI. He says Congress will contest every assembly seat alone this time and aims to build strength in every polling booth. He also outlined expectations for Malda and Murshidabad.

Summarised by Beize from a story on The Economic Times on 24 Apr 2026

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Amit Shah predicts BJP sweep in West Bengal first phase with 110 plus seats

Amit Shah predicts BJP sweep in West Bengal first phase with 110 plus seats

Union Home Minister Amit Shah exuded confidence that the BJP could win over 110 seats in the first phase of West Bengal’s Assembly elections. He pointed to record-like voter participation, arguing the enthusiastic turnout reflects a shift on the ground. Shah’s remarks signal the party’s strategy to convert early momentum into a decisive electoral push across constituencies.

Summarised by Beize from a story on The Economic Times on 24 Apr 2026
Modi hails West Bengal turnout and promises women welfare plus CAA citizenship for infiltrators

Modi hails West Bengal turnout and promises women welfare plus CAA citizenship for infiltrators

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said West Bengal’s voter turnout so far shows people’s “desire for change,” expressing confidence that BJP is headed for a landslide. He also announced ten new welfare guarantees for women and children. Modi added that once BJP forms the government, citizenship protections under the CAA will be extended to infiltrators, a claim that could shape the campaign narrative.

Summarised by Beize from a story on The Economic Times on 24 Apr 2026
Tamil Nadu turnout hits 85 as voters surge 9% over 2011 high

Tamil Nadu turnout hits 85 as voters surge 9% over 2011 high

Tamil Nadu’s assembly elections recorded an 85% voter turnout, up 9% from the 2011 high of 78%. Officials say the sharp rise reflects stronger political engagement among voters and a desire to shape governance. The polls also featured a high-stakes contest between major political coalitions and a rising new contender.

Summarised by Beize from a story on The Economic Times on 24 Apr 2026
West Bengal polls see surge in criminal cases as red alert seats jump 17 percent

West Bengal polls see surge in criminal cases as red alert seats jump 17 percent

West Bengal Assembly elections are entering the spotlight for candidates with criminal records. A report says “red alert” constituencies have risen by 17%, with 129 seats featuring three or more candidates who have declared criminal cases. Overall, 23% of candidates report criminal cases and 20% face serious charges, while the BJP leads among those with criminal records and crorepati candidates rise.

Summarised by Beize from a story on The Economic Times on 24 Apr 2026

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Assam NDA seat sharing complete as Himanta readies candidate list for Amit Shah

Assam NDA seat sharing complete as Himanta readies candidate list for Amit Shah

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma says the NDA seat-sharing deal for the upcoming assembly elections is finished. BJP, AGP, UPPL and BPF have finalized their contest plan, and state leadership will submit the candidate list soon to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The 126-member election is expected in March-April after recent delimitation.

Summarised by Beize from a story on The Economic Times on 24 Apr 2026
Modi slams TMC over loot, says infiltration is pushing Bengalis out

Modi slams TMC over loot, says infiltration is pushing Bengalis out

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a fierce campaign attack on West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress, accusing it of 15 years of “loot” and “destroying” the state’s identity. He further alleged that infiltration is forcing Bengalis to leave their homes in search of opportunities, and said early voting signals a large defeat for the TMC.

Summarised by Beize from a story on The Economic Times on 24 Apr 2026
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