Assembly Elections 2026 Highlights: West Bengal Lok Bhavan introduces a 24-hour helpline for poll complaints

Assembly Elections 2026 Live: Campaigning in Thoothukudi, Kanimozhi was asked about Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge's remark on PM Modi. She said, "Yes, there are raids. They use Income Tax, CBI, ED against their opposition parties. This has been their style of functioning and once these same people, who they have filed cases against, go and join them the cases disappear for some time till they are there with them."

Assembly Elections 2026 Live: An FIR has been filed against Triamool Congress' Kunal Ghosh, Garga Chatterjee for circulating an alleged fake BJP document. "The content of the fake document was misleading and defamatory, intended to: Mislead the public, Damage the party's reputation, and Influence the ongoing election process," the complaint stated.

Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday asserted that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) will return to power in the state for a fourth straight term, claiming that "no one wants the BJP to form government".

Addressing an election rally in Haldia in Purba Medinipur district, she also called on opposition parties to unite in order to oust the BJP-led NDA government at 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," Banerjee said, as per PTI.

Rahul Gandhi’s scheduled visit to Kolkata on April 23 has been called off after the local administration allegedly refused permission for the event, party sources said on Tuesday, reported ANI.

The Congress leader was expected to arrive in the West Bengal capital on April 23 to spearhead the party’s election campaign.

The Congress party alleged that the local administration and police, acting at the "behest of the Mamata Banerjee-led government," denied the required permissions for the visit.

The West Bengal Lok Bhavan on Tuesday introduced a round-the-clock helpline to enable citizens to lodge complaints related to the Assembly elections, according to an official statement.

The statement added that several delegations had met R. N. Ravi in recent weeks, expressing concerns about potential violence both in the lead-up to the elections and after the declaration of results.

"Quite a few of them also shared their past personal experience of having suffered brutal violence in previous elections, including the killing of family members and kin," it said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, stating her "time is up" and mentioning that the BJP is set to form the next government in the state ahead of the Assembly elections, as per ANI.

While addressing his last public rally of the day in Chandipur, West Medinipur, Shah mentioned, "This is the last rally of the first phase of the election. I want to tell Didi from Chandipur, 'Tata, bye-bye. Your time is up! You've troubled the people of Bengal a lot. It's time for you to leave and for the BJP to make an entry,'" Shah said.

“'Bhaipo' (nephew) won't be Bengal CM in future, he bought ticket to leave state after poll results,” Amit Shah said referring to TMC's Abhishek Banerjee, as per PTI.

Union Minister and Tamil Nadu BJP's election incharge, Piyush Goyal, on Tuesday described Chief Minister MK Stalin "divisive" and “anti-India”, as per ANI.

Criticising Stalin for his calling delimitation a move to "punish" progressive states and referring to the BJP as "anti-Tamil Nadu", Piyush Goyal alleged that the NDA will be under AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday slammed Trinamool Congress (TMC) government over women's safety in West Bengal, citing incidents in Sandeshkhali, RG Kar Medical College, Durgapur Medical College and South Kolkata Law College, claiming breakdown of law and order in the state, as per ANI.

Shah addressed a public rally in Salboni, West Medinipur. He mentioned the BJP would take stringent action against those accused of crimes against women once voted to power.

Edappadi K. Palaniswami, general secretary of the AIADMK, on Tuesday alleged that the DMK had plotted to split his party, but the attempt was successfully thwarted, as per PTI.

Speaking at an election rally in his native Salem district on the final day of campaigning ahead of the Assembly polls scheduled for Thursday, he also questioned the ruling DMK over the state’s investment climate.

The AIADMK leader further accused DMK president M. K. Stalin of earlier trying to “break” the party.

"EC deployed CAPF; if Mamata's goons try to disturb poll process, I will ensure they are hanged upside down and straightened up," Shah said, as per PTI.

Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, on Tuesday described the West Bengal Assembly elections as an opportunity “to free the state from infiltrators” and pledged to create one lakh jobs annually for youth based on merit if the BJP comes to power, as per PTI.

Addressing his second rally of the day in Kulti, near the industrial centres of Asansol and Barakar in Paschim Bardhaman, he said the BJP would revive the region’s industrial prominence in iron ore production and ensure employment for local youth.

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and candidate from the Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East constituencies, Vijay, held a massive roadshow in Saidapet on Tuesday, the final day of campaigning ahead of the April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, as per ANI.

Large crowds turned up to show their support for actor Vijay, who is making his political debut in these elections.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday strongly advocated for the NDA alliance ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, urging voters to back development and stability under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

"This is the right time for the voters of Tamil Nadu to take a decision. If they miss, they will lose five years. If you want employment and development, then vote for NDA. Narendra Modi ji is taking this country forward," Naidu told ANI.

The Boyanayak community said that it will boycott the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly polls in Tiruppur district, voicing dissatisfaction over the lack of political representation and engagement from political parties, as per ANI.

Tiruppur district has eight Assembly constituencies, where voting will be conducted on Thursday (April 23). The decision to boycott the polls was taken during a meeting of the Tiruppur District Boyanayak Coordination Welfare Association that took place on Tuesday morning at Kovilvazhi area on Tarapur Road.

BJD Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra on Tuesday alleged that 9.8 lakh electors face deletion from Odisha's electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision process. Writing to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Patra urged the Election Commission to freeze all deletions pending an inquiry and make the data publicly available.

"The scale, pattern, and process underlying these proposed deletions raise serious and substantive concerns," Patra wrote, adding that there exists "prima facie evidence... suggesting procedural irregularities and a real risk of wrongful disenfranchisement."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday promised to resolve the decades-old Gorkha issue within six months if the BJP forms the government in West Bengal. Addressing a rally at Kurseong in Darjeeling, Shah said only the BJP understood Gorkha concerns and aspirations.

"Within six months of the BJP forming the government in West Bengal, every Gorkha will have a smile on his face. We will find such a solution to the Gorkha issue that Gorkhas can live in peace," he said.

The Election Commission has banned motorcycles on Bengal roads between 6pm and 6am, starting two days before polling. Pillion riders will remain barred even during the 6am–6pm window, except for medical emergencies, family functions or school runs.

Wing Commander Md Shamim Akhtar (Retd) is a decorated Indian Air Force (IAF) veteran from West Bengal. He served in the IAF for 20 years, including 17 as a commissioned officer.

A resident of Kolkata, Akhtar says he got the “shock of his life” last month when he discovered his name had been deleted from West Bengal’s voter list during the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

READ MORE: IAF veteran dropped from Bengal voter list in mass SIR deletions

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched an attack on the TMC and its chief, Mamata Banerjee, on the last day of campaigning for the first phase of the West Bengal polls.

"I want to tell you that this time in West Bengal, a Bharatiya Janata Party government is going to be formed. It is time to say goodbye to 'Didi' (referring to CM Mamata Banerjee), who has oppressed us," he said.