Assembly Elections 2026 highlights: Electrifying campaign for Tamil Nadu polls ends

The high-intensity poll campaign for the April 23 Assembly election to Tamil Nadu ended at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, and the mandatory “silent period” came into effect 48 hours ahead of the poll date.

Political parties and candidates are barred from holding meetings, processions or issuing campaign-related advertisements during the silent period, an official said.

The model code of conduct is already in place since the announcement of the assembly election and will continue till the election process is completed.

The votes polled on April 23 will be taken up for counting on May 4 and results will be announced.

Police security arrangements have been tightened in sensitive places in Tamil Nadu. 

-PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of seeking to “protect infiltrators” and alleged that her “associate” Humayun Kabir wants to build a Babri Masjid in West Bengal, which the BJP would not allow.

Addressing an election rally at Salboni in Paschim Medinipur district, he said the West Bengal Assembly polls this time were about “freeing Bengal from infiltrators” and corruption.

“Mamata Didi wants to protect the infiltrators, but we will remove them,” he said.

Stepping up his attack on the ruling Trinamool Congress, Mr. Shah referred to suspended TMC MLA and Aam Janata Unnayan Party founder Humayun Kabir and accused him of trying to rake up the Babri Masjid issue in the State.

“Modi ji built the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. It came up at a place where Babri Masjid stood. Now, Mamata Didi, through her associate Humayun Kabir, wants to build a Babri Masjid in Bengal,” he said. “Bengal is in India, and we will not allow anyone to build a Babri Masjid in Bengal.” The senior BJP leader also promised that a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) would be implemented in the State if his party came to power.

“We will bring the Uniform Civil Code in Bengal. Some people marry four times. Should that be stopped or not? No one will be able to marry four times,” Mr. Shah told the gathering. 

-PTI

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday invoked Dravidian roots to seek votes for the NDA candidates in the run-up to the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls.

Invoking Tamil pride, the TDP chief said he came here to remind the people of the southern state about their future and appealed to them to vote for the National Democratic Alliance candidates.

Addressing a press conference, he said Tamil Nadu is the cradle of Dravidian (South Indian) culture and observed that Tamil and Telugu people were together under the Madras Presidency during the British colonial time before independence.

“You are all aware Tamil Nadu is the cradle of Dravidian culture. We are all Dravidians. Historically, if you can go through it, we are (were) all in a combined province during the British period. Chennai was the headquarters. At that time Madras,” Mr. Naidu said. 

-PTI

The Election Commission on Tuesday (April 21, 2026) replaced the Police Observer for Nandigram Assembly constituency in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district, just two days ahead of polling in the high-profile seat, a senior official of the poll panel said.

Hitesh Choudhury, the police observer of Nandigram, was removed and replaced by Akhilesh Singh, he said. 

The move came a day after the Trinamool Congress raised allegations of bias against the Officer-in-Charge of the Nandigram Police Station.

In a letter to the police observer on Monday (April 20, 2026), the TMC alleged that complaints lodged by party workers against BJP members were not being acted upon. 

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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday stepped up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of “terrorising” political parties and people by misusing government machinery and central agencies to stifle the Opposition.

Addressing a press conference in Chennai alongside AICC general secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal, Mr. Kharge initially referred to the Prime Minister as a “terrorist” while criticising the AIADMK’s alliance with the BJP.

However, when pressed by reporters to clarify the context of the remark, the Congress chief stated he meant the Prime Minister was “terrorising” the democratic fabric of the country.

“He is terrorising people and political parties. I never said he is a terrorist (in the literal sense). Terrorising this... he is misusing his power and government machinery and abusing, malingering opposition parties,” Mr. Kharge said.

The Congress chief alleged that the Election Commission has become an “extension of the BJP office” and accused the Prime Minister of violating the Model Code of Conduct in the final stages of the election campaign. He further claimed that central agencies like the CBI, ED, and Income Tax department were being deployed as tools of intimidation against political workers.

-PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday (April 21) asserted that the TMC will return to power in the state for the fourth consecutive term, claiming that “no one wants the BJP to form government”.

Addressing a poll rally at Haldia in Purba Medinipur district, Banerjee also urged opposition parties to come together to oust the BJP-led NDA Government from the Centre.

“The BJP will not win the elections in West Bengal this time. The Trinamool Congress will again form the government. We will also throw out the BJP from Delhi in 2026 itself,” Ms. Banerjee asserted.

- PTI

Around 23% candidates in fray for the two-phases of West Bengal Assembly polls, have declared criminal cases against themselves, according to an analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms. The poll watchdog analysed self-sworn affidavits of 2,920 candidates and found that a total of 683 candidates had declared criminal cases.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday (April 21) termed the West Bengal assembly polls a chance “to make the State free of infiltrators” and promised one lakh jobs for youths each year based on merit if the BJP won the election.

“Kulti used to be the hub of iron ore production of the country, but the Mamata Banerjee government has brought it to its knees. We will take the iron city back to its glory, stop illegal mining, impose effective bans on the pollution-creating sponge iron production in the region and create job opportunities for local youths,” Mr. Shah said.

- PTI

Tension prevailed after stones were pelted at the convoy of the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) candidate Sathya during her election campaign in the Tsunami Housing quarters in Ennore in Tuesday (April 21, 2026). 

The Election Commission on Tuesday (April 21, 2026) issued clear directions to all District Election Officers and Returning Officers in Kerala not to open any strongrooms “under any circumstances” before the day the votes are counted.

TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday (April 21) hit out at the BJP for “failing” to deliver on its promises, and asserted that the ruling party’s welfare schemes like ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ would continue uninterrupted in West Bengal.

Addressing a poll rally at Barjora in Bankura district, Mr. Banerjee said women “will continue to receive benefits under the scheme for life”.

Under the popular ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ scheme, women from the general category receive ₹1,000 per month, while those belonging to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities get ₹1,200 per month.

- PTI

Seeking to strike an emotional chord with the politically crucial hill electorate, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday (April 21) promised that the BJP would resolve the decades-old Gorkha issue within six months if the BJP comes to power in West Bengal.

He said no party other than the BJP could find a solution acceptable to the Gorkhas.

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam president C. Joseph Vijay, on Tuesday (April 21, 2026), said the people of Tamil Nadu have given him everything, and he entered politics only with a sense of gratitude to serve them and would not yield to the pressure of “anti-people fascist forces.”

In a statement addressing the people of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Vijay alleged that from the very day he entered politics, the DMK, which he described as his party’s political enemy and an “anti-people evil force,” and the BJP, which he called an ideological enemy to his party and a “divisive force,” contesting along with “many others,” had been exerting enormous pressure on him.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) candidate from Kolathur, M.K. Stalin, on Tuesday (April 21) campaigned in support of State Health Minister and party candidate from Saidapet Assembly Constituency, Ma. Subramanian, as the State heads towards polling on April 23.

During the campaign, Mr. Stalin interacted with voters and sought support for the DMK candidate in the Saidapet constituency.

“Chennai has always been the fortress of DMK! The love and warm welcome given by the people in the Sholinganallur - Velachery - Saidapet constituencieS,” Mr. Stalin said in his post on X.

- ANI

A total of nine people, including five BJP workers and four TMC workers, were arrested after tensions escalated into a clash outside Ekbalpur Police Station in Kolkata on Monday (April 21).As per the Kolkata police, the incident unfolded on Hossain Shah Road during a campaigning programme, triggering a confrontation between supporters of the two rival parties.

According to Kolkata Police, the clash broke out when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters gathered for a meeting led by party candidate Rakesh Singh. During the programme, sloganeering by BJP workers was met with counter-slogans from supporters of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), leading to a heated exchange that soon turned violent.

- ANI

In a major development ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections, officials of the Election Flying Squad seized ₹2.44 crore of unaccounted cash near Perambalur.According to Perambalur Tehsildar, the incident took place at Sengunam village, where a flying squad led by Excise Supervisory Officer Palaniselvan was conducting routine vehicle checks.

Upon examination, officials found five carton boxes in the car’s trunk containing bundles of ₹500 currency notes. The total cash seized amounted to ₹2,44,97,500.

- ANI

PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss on Tuesday (April 21) claimed that AIADMK and his party have formulated constructive plans to implement prohibition in a phased manner and completely eradicate narcotics in Tamil Nadu, within three months, if the alliance voted to power in the April 23 Assembly elections.

“Specifically, it will be ensured that women and children can move about freely anywhere and at any time throughout Tamil Nadu”, he said in a statement.

- PTI

Around 23% candidates in fray in the second phase of West Bengal Assembly polls have declared criminal cases against themselves, while 22% are crorepatis, according to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

Out of 1,445 candidates analysed, 338 (23%) have declared criminal cases against themselves and 295 (20%) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves, the report showed.

- PTI

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday (April 21) hit out at the Centre over the proposed delimitation exercise, calling it an attempt to “punish” progressive states like Tamil Nadu.

In a video message posted on X, Stalin framed the issue as one that threatens the State’s growth model, linking it to population control and industrial success.

As the campaign for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections concluded, Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson ANS Prasad claimed that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is heading towards a “decisive victory,” asserting that a new government under AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami will be formed within 15 days.

Prasad also alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi showed no interest in aligning with the DMK, and that the alliance was facilitated through intermediaries.

- ANI

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has asserted that the poll panel will “leave no stone unturned” to ensure free and fair elections in West Bengal, laying out a detailed framework to curb malpractices and instil voter confidence.

In a message to the officials managing the elections in the state, Kumar on Monday said the Election Commission is committed to conducting elections that are “free of fear, violence, intimidation and inducements”, underscoring a zero-tolerance approach towards electoral malpractices.

“No employee of the State Government, local bodies or autonomous bodies would be allowed to influence the electoral process in any manner,” CEC Kumar said.

- PTI

As campaigning intensifies ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) candidate from Kolathur, M.K. Stalin, on Tuesday carried out a morning walk campaign in Chennai’s Kannagi Nagar, drawing large crowds of supporters and local residents.

During the outreach programme, people gathered in large numbers to meet, interact with the Chief Minister, and express their support.

- ANI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has alleged that the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) had planted its “cherry-picked” officers at the airport to deliberately delay her flight.The Chief Minister said that her flight was kept waiting on the runway for 30 minutes, underlining that the same thing happened with Hemant Soren’s chopper as well.Further, she said that the AITC struggled to get permission for the meeting, further alleging that a BJP leader who is given poll duties has been causing problems to the people of the district.“We had to struggle a lot to get permission for this meeting. They have cherry-picked officers. They deliberately stopped me so that my programs would get delayed. They are not giving us permission to hold meetings. A person has come who thinks he is a ‘big leader’ of the BJP. I know the person very well. That person is given duty during the polls. They are troubling the people of this district. We will take revenge democratically,” she said.

- ANI

Congress MP K.C. Venugopal said that the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) wants to hijack the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and is using All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) as a weapon to do so.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr. Venugopal said that this election is a contest between the Tamil culture and the idea of secularism against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “dictatorial rule.”

-ANI