Elections for all 234 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu and 152 of West Bengal’s 294 seats begun on Thursday in what is a summer of elections, with polling having concluded in Kerala, Assam and Puducherry on April 9.
In Tamil Nadu, more than 5.73 crore voters are set to decide the fate of 4,023 candidates in a three-way contest primarily between the DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA, as Chief Minister MK Stalin seeks to retain power while AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami aims to return to office after five years. However, the Dravidian heavyweights face a tough fight, with the electoral debut of actor Vijay’s TVK adding a new dimension to the contest.
In West Bengal, over 3.60 crore voters, including nearly 1.75 crore women, are eligible to vote in the first of two phases covering 152 of the state’s 294 seats, which will shape the contest between the three-term CM Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and the BJP, which is seeking to form the government for the first time in the state.
The second phase, covering 142 seats and focusing on Kolkata and surrounding districts, is scheduled for April 29. Polling in both states will begin at 7 am and will conclude at 6 pm.
Counting of votes in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal will take place on May 4, along with Kerala, Assam and the union territory of Puducherry.
DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran on Thursday stated that the people of Tamil Nadu wanted the ruling party to return to power and claimed that the ongoing Assembly election was a "war between the state and evil Delhi."
After exercising his franchise at a polling booth in Chennai, the former union minister said the DMK will continue.
"Not only me, people in Tamil Nadu want DMK to come back," he said.
Voting for the Tamil Nadu Assembly election commenced at 7 AM.
Maran represents Chennai Central consitutency in Lok Sabha.
TMC candidate from Malda district's Sujapur constituency, Sabina Yasmin, alleged that the central forces disrupted polling in several booths, as the first phase of elections for the West Bengal Assembly progressed on Thursday.
"The Central Forces are creating problems in a lot of polling booths. Their work is to maintain law and order, but they are checking ID cards. Due to this, voting is going slowly. They think that if people remain standing under the Sun for long, they will return without voting. They intend that there should be less voting. We are filing a complaint," Yasmin said.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin's daughter Senthamarai Stalin and son-in-law Sabarisan cast their votes at a polling station in Chennai on Thursday.
"We have voted with confidence for Tamil Nadu's self respect, growth and future. We are very confident," Sabarisan told reporters.
Tamil Nadu recorded 56.81 per cent polling till 1 pm. Chennai recorded 54.58 per cent polling, says Election Commission.
Voting was delayed in a couple of polling stations falling under Erode and Namakkal regions on Thursday morning due to glitches in EVMs/VVPAT and such issues were quickly addressed, officials said.
In a polling booth in Erode's Soorampatti area, "minor technical glitch" in EVMs was rectified, they said.
In Namakkal, in a polling station at the Kollimalai foothills, due to dysfunctional EVM/VVPAT, polling was delayed for a while and it was replaced with spare equipment, they added.
The CPI(M)'s West Bengal Secretary Md Salim said the first phase polling in the state on Thursday largely has been peaceful as he blamed the Election Commission for the sporadic incidents of scuffle reported from some states.
Asked about the allegation that the BJP's Kumarganj candidate in Dakshin Dinajpur district was manhandled by Trinamool supporters, he said the poll panel and police observers should have been more alert.
"Polling so far has been overall peaceful, barring some violence in Birbhum and some parts of Murshidabad.
All said and done, ECI's incapability is evident," Salim told PTI.
The BJP’s political rise in West Bengal traces back to 1998, when it won its first Lok Sabha seat from Dum Dum in alliance with Mamata Banerjee’s newly formed TMC. A year later, the partnership delivered the BJP its first Assembly seat through a bypoll victory in Ashoknagar.
That brief alliance marked the party’s initial foothold in the state, but it soon faded, with the BJP drawing blanks in Assembly elections for over a decade. Its re-entry came in 2014 with a bypoll win in Basirhat Dakshin, signalling a slow but steady expansion.
The party’s growth accelerated thereafter, rising from three MLAs in 2016 to 77 in 2021, transforming it into the principal challenger to the TMC in Bengal’s sharply polarised political landscape.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore cast his vote at a polling booth in Madurai. Speaking to news agency ANI, he termed the assembly election a "very important one", adding that this poll is going to be "very decisive."
"People are actively participating. There's a good sign that more people are coming up; by 11 o'clock, 36% is a very good number. More people are coming into the polling stations.
The Election Commission should have made arrangements for those people, like water and kind of facilities for those people, but there are discrepancies in that thing, and I'll speak to the ROs also.
I had voted in the Thirupparankundram assembly segment, which the RSS and BJP are trying to politicise. I hope that this time, the RSS-BJP-AIADMK's candidate is rejected in Thirupparankundram," he added.
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi party chief Thol Thirumavalavan casts vote in Ariyalur.
Chennai Police Commissioner Abhin Dinesh Modak said that extensive security arrangements have been put in place across the city to ensure smooth polling.
"All security arrangements have been made to secure the city. I have visited many polling booths and interacted with people. I would appeal to the people to come and vote. More than 28,000 security personnel, including Police and Home Guards, are deployed today. No untoward incident has happened so far."
Clashes broke out between supporters of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) and the ruling TMC in Naoda area in West Bengal's Murshidabad district on Thursday, prompting police and central forces to resort to baton charge to disperse the mob, officials said.
The violence was reported from Shibnagar village in the Naoda assembly constituency during the first phase of the state assembly polls.
Several incidents of vehicle vandalism were reported.
Workers of Humayun Kabir's (AJUP) were accused of being involved in the disturbances, though he denied all the allegations.
Central forces resorted to a lathi charge to bring the situation under control.
Addressing a poll rally in Krishnanagar, the Prime Minister congratulated voters in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu for actively participating in the electoral process.
He expressed confidence that both states would witness a record voter turnout, calling it a strong sign of democratic spirit and public engagement.
Nandigram, which is on the ballot today, has emerged as one of West Bengal’s most closely watched constituencies ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, with BJP's Suvendu Adhikari facing TMC candidate Pabitra Kar in a high-stakes rematch shaped by past political ruptures and fresh controversy over voter list revisions.
The contest has been further sharpened by allegations surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with Sabar Institute, a Kolkata-based public policy research group claiming a disproportionate deletion of Muslim voters in the constituency.
The organisation said Muslims accounted for 95.5% of removals from supplementary lists despite forming about a quarter of the electorate, a charge disputed by those involved in the exercise. In contrast, only 4.5% of non-Muslims were removed from the rolls, according to the study, which is based on EC data.
The TMC on Thursday accused the police of working in favour of the BJP in Nandigram, while Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari alleged that goons backed by the ruling party were threatening people in the area as voting was underway in the first phase of West Bengal assembly polls.
Tamil Nadu has recorded an overall voter turnout of 37.56% as of 11 am, according to the Election Commission's (ECI) data.
Namakkal - 45.87%
Erode – 41%
Salem – 40.56%
Tiruppur – 42.45%
Tiruchirappalli – 38.08%
Thiruvarur – 37.19%
Ranipet – 38.70%
Namakkal – 41.41%
Karur – 39.70%
Dindigul – 39.05%
Dharmapuri – 38.28%
Coimbatore – 38.62%
Chennai – 35.47%
As of 11 am, West Bengal saw a higher participation at 41.11% during the first phase of voting. Paschim Medinipur leads with 44.69 per cent polling.
The figures, marked as provisional, reflect initial voter engagement as polling continues through the day.
DMK MP Kanimozhi on Thursday expressed confidence that her party would return to power in Tamil Nadu.
Speaking to the reporters after casting her vote here, she said "people will take the right decision and DMK regime will continue".
Stating that "truth" will emerge after the counting of votes on May 4, Kanimozhi highlighted the DMK's performance over five years and its commitment to protect the state, language and culture.
She also urged the people of Tamil Nadu to carefully consider who has the capability to protect the state before casting their votes in the election.
To a question, she said "history will surely repeat," in an apparent reference to the DMK repeating its 2021 poll show.
Tamil Nadu has recorded a voter turnout of 37.56 per cent till 11 am, according to data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI), as polling continues across the state
Under the watchful eyes of over 3.6 lakh polling personnel and a statewide security blanket, Tamil Nadu begins its march to the booths on Thursday. This morning's commencement of the assembly elections marks more than a routine transfer of power -- it is the culmination of a 74-year democratic evolution.
With exactly 5.73 crore people eligible to cast their ballots, the fundamental question looming over today's proceedings is whether a record-breaking surge of nearly 14.6 lakh first-time voters can finally shatter the historic participation ceiling set over a decade ago.
To understand the significance of today's numbers, one must look at the arc of Tamil Nadu's electoral participation.
Seat-sharing negotiations in the run-up to Tamil Nadu assembly elections has revived debate over smaller parties contesting under the symbols of dominant alliance partners, raising concerns over identity and political control. Leaders from outfits such as the MDMK, VCK and Left parties have flagged unease, arguing that while such arrangements may boost winnability through familiar symbols, they limit long-term organisational growth.
The practice, dating back decades, has evolved from a voluntary choice to a more structured condition imposed during alliance talks, analysts say. In the 2026 polls, 15 smaller parties are contesting 24 seats using the symbols of larger allies, including the DMK, AIADMK and BJP.
Observers note that the system allows major parties to retain tighter control over elected MLAs, particularly under anti-defection rules, while smaller allies struggle for independent recognition — highlighting tensions within coalition politics in the state.
Aam Janata Unnayan Party chief Humayun Kabir on Thursday alleged the ruling Trinamool Congress bribed several of his party candidates to keep them out of the poll fray.
Kabir, who cast his vote during the early hours of polling, was met with protests from Trinamool Congress supporters who raised "go back" slogans when the leader visited a polling booth in Shibnagar village in Murshidabad's Naoda assembly constituency.
The protesters, led by local TMC leaders, surrounded Kabir's vehicle and raised slogans while branding him a "BJP agent".
The demonstration sparked tension in the area around the polling station.
A. Raja, Deputy General Secretary of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, cast his vote at a polling booth in Perambalur district.
He said the turnout reflects public support for the Dravidian model of governance and welfare schemes, expressing confidence that the DMK-led alliance will win over 200 seats and that M. K. Stalin will return as Chief Minister.
Accessibility gaps persist at polling stations across Tamil Nadu, raising concerns over whether persons with disabilities (PwDs) can vote independently despite official assurances of compliance.
A ground audit of 47 booths across 12 districts found widespread shortcomings, including steep or makeshift ramps, absent handrails, narrow corridors and inaccessible toilets. The findings contrast with claims made by election authorities before the Madras High Court that all polling stations had permanent ramps and “Assured Minimum Facilities”.
Field visits, however, revealed inconsistent implementation, with some locations relying on temporary structures or unfinished buildings, while others lacked basic access entirely.
In several instances, PwDs were reportedly assisted physically due to poor infrastructure, undermining the principle of independent voting. While a few centres showed better preparedness, especially in parts of Coimbatore and rural pockets, the overall picture points to uneven readiness ahead of polling, with officials promising last-minute fixes.
DMK MP Kanimozhi cast her vote at CSI St. Ebba’s School in Chennai as polling continued across Tamil Nadu.
Residents of Vengaivayal boycotted the polls, hoisting black flags at the village entrance in protest.
Villagers alleged that no political party, from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam alliance to the newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, approached them for votes or conducted any campaign.
They reiterated that their stand remains unchanged, demanding justice for the Vengaivayal incident.
Tamil Nadu’s assembly election campaign has evolved into a rare three-cornered contest, breaking from the state’s traditional DMK-AIADMK duopoly with the entry of actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which has added a new layer of unpredictability to the race.
Vijay’s TVK has emerged as the key wildcard, drawing strong interest among younger and urban voters, even as its campaign has faced disruptions and criticism following the fatal Karur stampede last year. Despite setbacks, the party has maintained visibility through sustained outreach.
Analysts say TVK’s impact on vote splits could be decisive in a tightly contested election, with its appeal potentially reshaping outcomes in multiple constituencies.
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Thursday expressed confidence that DMK will emerge victorious in the Assembly elections.
Speaking to reporters after exercising his franchise here, the DMK youth wing secretary urged people to come and vote. To a question on how confident he was about his party winning the elections, he said, "I am very confident."
Tensions escalated in Murshidabad as a scuffle broke out between TMC workers and Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AUJP) founder Humayun Kabir.
The incident occurred while Kabir was visiting a locality where a crude bomb hurling was reported a day earlier.
Former CM and DMK candidate from Bodinayakkanur Assembly constituency O Panneerselvam casts his vote at a polling station in Periyakulam
According to Election Commission (EC) figures, polling till 9 am recorded a turnout of 17.51 per cent.
About 1.1 crore voters exercised their franchise till 9 am, the EC said.
Chennai recorded 16.51 per cent polling, Madurai - 17.08 per cent, Coimbatore - 18.45 per cent and Tiruchirappalli - 17.99 per cent.
At Kolathur Assembly constituency, where Chief Minister M K Stalin is contesting, saw 17.51 polling till 9 am and at Chepauk - 15.70 per cent.
Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin is contesting from Chepauk Assembly constituency.
Similarly, Edappadi constituency recorded 19.04 per cent, where AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami is contesting.
In Trichy East, where Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief Vijay is contesting, saw 17.72 per cent polling.
BJP leader K. Annamalai expressed confidence that voters will make the right choice as polling concludes. He urged citizens to reflect on the past five years and vote for Tamil Nadu’s future.
The most contentious issue in the West Bengal Assembly election has been the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, with the debate now centred on whether the revision could influence the prospects of the three-term government led by Mamata Banerjee.
The Trinamool Congress has questioned the process, while the BJP has maintained that the revision is aimed at cleaning up the electoral rolls.
Notably, West Bengal has 294 Assembly seats, with a majority mark of 148. In 2021, the Trinamool Congress won 215 seats, compared with 77 for the BJP, while the Left and others secured one seat each.
The Election Commission has used the term “logical discrepancy” during the revision process, a classification not previously used in recent SIR exercises in other states, including Bihar, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.
The SIR exercise has led to the removal of around 90 lakh names from the electoral rolls, accounting for roughly 11.6% of the electorate. The figure is close to the Trinamool Congress’s winning margin in the 2021 polls, when it secured around 48% of the vote compared with 38% for the BJP.
According to updated roll data, of the 90 lakh names, around 65 lakh were attributed to death, migration, duplication or non-availability. Around 27 lakh cases were placed under adjudication, while approximately 33 lakh names were subsequently reinstated after verification.
The impact has varied across districts, with higher deletions reported in several areas, including West Burdwan, South Dinajpur and parts of North Kolkata. The Trinamool has argued that the scale of deletions in some constituencies overlaps with its previous winning margins, raising concerns over voter exclusion.
EVM glitches disrupted voting at a few places in West Bengal on Thursday as polling was underway in the first phase of the assembly elections, officials said.
Overnight violence was also reported from some places amid the unprecedented security arrangements made.
In Murshidabad district, polling was halted at booth number 156 in Parsalika Madanmohan Primary School in the Beldanga assembly segment after an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) developed a snag, they said.
At booth number 212 in the Samsherganj assembly constituency, voting did not begin on time because of similar issues. Polling was also delayed at booth number 130 in Kandi, officials added.
In Purba Medinipur, an EVM malfunction was reported in Birulia of the Nandigram assembly constituency.
In Cooch Behar, voting at booth number 229 in Town High School was suspended for nearly an hour before resuming. Polling was also delayed at booth number 231 in Malda district's Habibpur constituency.
In Siliguri in Darjeeling district, polling could not start on time at booth number 26/31 in Margaret School because of a faulty EVM.
West Bengal recorded a turnout of 18.76 per cent in the first two hours of voting in the first phase of the assembly polls on Thursday, according to the Election Commission.
The Bankura assembly constituency registered the highest turnout at 22.05 per cent in the first two hours, followed by Samserganj in Murshidabad at 21.85 per cent and Chandrakona in Paschim Medinipur at 21.83 per cent, according to the EC.
Coochbehar Dakshin recorded the lowest turnout at 15.57 per cent, followed by Chanchal in Malda at 15.64 per cent and Harischandrapur at 15.98 per cent.
Marking a brisk polling, 17.69% votes have been polled for the Assembly elections, within the first two hours, in Tamil Nadu. The polling started at 7 a.m. In all, 5.73 crore voters will be voting today to elect 234 MLAs. In all, 4,023 candidates are in the fray.
Chief Minister MK Stalin and three other CM aspirants - AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, NTK leader Seeman and TVK president Vijay have cast their votes by 9 a.m in their respective constituencies.
Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin, his wife Durga Stalin, Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin and other family members cast their votes in a polling booth in Alwarpet. AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami and his family members cast their votes at a booth in Siluvampalayam in Edappadi constituency. NTK leader Seeman and TVK president Vijay cast their votes in their respective booths in Neelankarai.
Voting was delayed at a booth in Raghunathganj Girls' School after an Electronic Voting Machine malfunction, triggering frustration among voters.
Many expressed anger over the long wait and the absence of a prompt replacement machine.
Vijay, chief of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, has written to the Chief Election Commissioner urging an extension of polling hours until 8 pm.
In his letter, he cited travel disruptions and long queues that have delayed voters, stressing that extended hours are necessary to ensure everyone gets a fair chance to cast their vote.
Union minister Piyush Goyal appealed to voters in Tamil Nadu to turn out in large numbers and cast their ballots, stressing the importance of every vote in shaping the state’s future.
"Vote for development, progress & prosperity! Tamil Nadu today has an opportunity to change its fate. I appeal to all eligible voters to go out in large numbers and cast their votes.
Every single vote holds the power to shape a brighter, more developed future for Tamil Nadu. Make it count."
BJP state president and candidate from Sattur seat Nainar Nagenthran casts his vote at Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Silver Jubilee School, Tirunelveli.
Riju Dutta said polling has remained largely peaceful, with no major incidents reported. He noted that a few minor issues did arise but were promptly addressed, and voting is proceeding smoothly so far.
After casting vote for Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said, 'Tamil Nadu will win'.
West Bengal’s electoral behaviour is shaped by a mix of religious concentration, caste categories and regional identity blocs, with constituency outcomes often reflecting sharply localised demographic balances.
Hindus account for around 70–72% of the population, while Muslims form approximately 27%, based on Census 2011 data.
Scheduled Castes constitute about 23%, while Scheduled Tribes account for around 5–6%, with significant concentration in North Bengal and western districts.
Muslim voters form a decisive segment in several districts, particularly Murshidabad, Malda, Nadia and parts of North Bengal, where they can constitute a majority in select constituencies, making them a key factor in electoral strategies in these regions.
SC voters are widely distributed across rural Bengal and often act as a swing bloc in closely contested seats, while ST communities influence outcomes in select hill and forest belts, especially in North Bengal and Jangalmahal.
Caste structures in West Bengal are less formally articulated in political mobilisation compared to some other states, but regional identity and socio-religious clustering strongly influence voting behaviour at the constituency level.
Age composition broadly reflects national patterns, with a significant youth electorate (18–35) playing a key role in shaping campaign narratives around jobs, welfare and governance.
Unlike more structured caste-based systems elsewhere, West Bengal’s electoral arithmetic is driven by an overlapping mix of religion, caste category and regional identity, with parties tailoring outreach accordingly.
Karti Chidambaram expressed strong confidence in the alliance led by DMK, calling it a well-organised coalition that has remained intact since 2004 and is poised to secure enough seats to form the government comfortably.
He also cautioned against overinterpreting voter turnout figures, noting that voting percentages can be misleading due to the deletion of names following the SIR process.
Tamil Nadu CM and DMK candidate from Kolathur, MK Stalin arrives at a polling station in Chennai to cast his vote. His family, including his son and Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, is also with him.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge appealed to voters in Tamil Nadu to participate actively in the Assembly elections, framing the contest as a fight to safeguard key democratic principles.
“The fight today is to secure your rights. The fight is to protect federalism, rationality, equality, justice and freedom,” he said in a post on X.
“It is also to ensure inclusive welfare and retain the ideals of social justice espoused by your icons. It is time for you to exercise your Democratic right and take a stand against those who want to snatch your federal rights,” he added.
Kharge further urged the first-time voters to come out in large numbers and exercise their franchise.
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay, contesting from Tiruchirappalli East and Perambur constituencies, arrived at a polling station in Neelankarai to cast his vote during the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
A crowd gathered outside the polling station as actor arrived to cast vote.
AIADMK leader D Jayakumar cast his vote at a polling station in Mylapore.
Contesting from Royapuram, he called the election crucial, alleging it would end "one family dynasty" and "ganja culture". He also slammed the state’s law and order situation, calling it the worst in Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu’s electorate shows a pronounced demographic tilt, with youth, first-time voters and women forming key segments of the voter base, according to Election Commission electoral roll data.
Women voters form a decisive share of the electorate, with electoral roll data showing they number over 2.93 crore, compared to around 2.80 crore male voters, making them a crucial constituency. Parties have increasingly targeted this segment with welfare schemes, cash transfers and household-linked benefits, with such messaging playing a central role in campaigns.
Data from the final electoral roll published on February 23 shows a significant youth presence. There are 12,51,742 first-time voters (aged 18–19) and 1,05,31,653 electors in the 20–29 age group. Broader ECI roll-based analysis suggests that voters in the 18–29 age group account for an estimated one-fifth of the electorate, while the wider 18–35 cohort is assessed to form over a third of registered voters.
Age composition remains a key electoral factor, with electoral roll data pointing to a sizeable youth electorate, particularly in the 18–35 bracket, making young voters an important swing segment in urban and semi-urban constituencies. First-time voters in the 18–19 age group form a new entrant cohort that is especially significant in urban and semi-urban areas. This makes young voters a structurally important bloc across fast-growing urban centres such as Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai, as well as industrial and semi-urban belts.
Together, youth and women voters are seen as central to electoral outcomes in Tamil Nadu, with issues such as employment, welfare delivery, public services and governance shaping preferences across both urban and rural constituencies.
Actor and Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan and his daughter Shruti Haasan arrive to cast vote at Chennai High School, Eldams Road, Teynampet.
Voting was briefly delayed at Booth 295 in Thoothukudi’s Duvipuram after a malfunction was reported in the control unit of the electronic voting machine, PTI reported.
Officials are working to fix the issue, and polling is expected to resume once the technical glitch is addressed.
Tamil Nadu’s electoral landscape is shaped by a combination of Dravidian political identity, caste-based social blocs and a relatively young electorate, with parties calibrating candidate selection and alliances around region-specific social balances.
Hindus form around 87.6% of the population, followed by Christians at about 6.1% and Muslims at around 5.9%, according to Census 2011 data.
Caste composition is not officially enumerated beyond Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, but electoral analysis consistently places Backward Classes (BCs and MBCs combined) at around 65–70% of the population, forming the backbone of both DMK and AIADMK support bases.
Among identifiable social blocs, Vanniyars (around 12–15%) dominate parts of northern Tamil Nadu, while Thevars, Gounders, Nadars and other intermediate communities each range broadly between 3–10% depending on region, making constituency-level caste balancing critical. These sub-groups operate within the larger BC/MBC framework and are reflected in candidate selection strategies.
Scheduled Castes account for roughly 20%, giving them decisive influence in several southern and central constituencies, while Scheduled Tribes are estimated at about 1%, concentrated in limited pockets.
Religious minorities, though smaller in proportion, remain electorally relevant in select constituencies, particularly in southern districts and urban centres.
Tamilisai Soundararajan, BJP candidate from Mylapore, cast her vote and called on citizens to celebrate their democratic right.
Reflecting on her journey, from a medical student to Governor and now a candidate, she said her commitment to voting has never changed.
Emphasizing the “beauty of democracy,” she urged for a safe Tamil Nadu, meaningful change, and stronger representation of women’s voices in Parliament and the Assembly.
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami cast his vote along with family members in his hometown, the Edappadi Assembly segment in Salem district.
He also appealed to voters to step out in large numbers and exercise their democratic rights, stressing the importance of active participation in the electoral process.
State BJP vice president Khushbu Sundar casts her vote at a polling booth in Mylapore. The constituency sees a contest between BJP's Tamilisai Soundararajan here and DMK's D Velu.
BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, contesting from Nandigram and Bhabanipur, said he offered prayers and interacted with polling agents, urging that voting be conducted peacefully.
Commenting on voter rolls, he alleged that without “dead, fake or infiltrator voters,” there would be no chance for Mamata Banerjee to win.
Voting for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections began early in the morning under tight security arrangements across the state.
Long queues were seen outside several polling booths even before voting officially commenced, with voters arriving early to cast their ballots. Authorities have deployed extensive security measures to ensure a smooth and peaceful polling process.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi On Thursday urged the voters in Tamil Nadu to participate enthusiastically in the Assembly elections, calling it a “sacred democratic duty.” He encouraged youth and women to turn out in large numbers and help achieve a record voter turnout in a post on X.
Polling begins for 152 seats in first phase of assembly elections in Bengal, amid tight security.
Polling started at 7 am with voters queueing up outside booths in districts ranging from Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri in the north to Murshidabad, Nadia, Birbhum and Hooghly in the south.
Voting begins across Tamil Nadu for Assembly election amid tight security
West Bengal goes to the first phase of polling on Thursday in a tightly contested Assembly election that has sharpened into a polarised battle over identity, citizenship and political dominance, even as traditional debates on jobs and corruption recede.
Voting will be held across 152 of the state’s 294 seats, spanning all 54 constituencies in north Bengal and parts of Murshidabad, Nadia, Birbhum and Hooghly. Over 3.60 crore voters, including nearly 1.75 crore women, are eligible to cast their ballots.
The first phase is widely seen as crucial for both the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is banking on north Bengal to retain its political relevance in the state. For the TMC, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the challenge is to prevent a BJP surge in its traditional weak zones.
Campaign rhetoric has centred on allegations and counter-allegations over governance, infiltration and voter roll revisions, with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and deletion of names emerging as a flashpoint across several districts.
The Election Commission has deployed 2,450 companies of central forces, with over 8,000 polling stations classified as sensitive, underscoring the intensity of the contest.
The phase also includes a series of high-profile and closely watched battles across north Bengal’s tea gardens, hill constituencies and border districts, each shaped by distinct local concerns ranging from wages and jobs to identity politics.
Counting of votes for all phases will take place on May 4.
Seats in Phase: 1: 152 of 294
Total voters: Over 3.60 crore electors
Women voters: Nearly 1.75 crore
Polling coverage: North Bengal (all 54 seats) + parts of Murshidabad, Nadia, Birbhum, Hooghly
Central forces deployed: 2,450 companies
Sensitive booths: Over 8,000 polling stations
Election focus: High-security deployment due to polarised contest
Tamil Nadu heads into a decisive Assembly election on Thursday after months of high-decibel campaigning, setting up a multi-cornered contest that will test the durability of the state’s Dravidian political order. Over 5.73 crore voters will decide the fate of 4,023 candidates across 234 constituencies, with polling scheduled from 7 am to 6 pm. The results will be declared on May 4.
The ruling DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, led by Chief Minister M K Stalin, is seeking a renewed mandate on the back of its “Dravidian Model” governance pitch, with allies including the Congress, VCK, DMDK and left parties. Stalin has framed the contest as a larger ideological battle, pitching it as “Delhi versus Tamil Nadu” while promising continued welfare-driven development under the “Dravidian Model 2.0”
The AIADMK, led by Edappadi K Palaniswami and aligned with the BJP, is attempting a comeback after five years in opposition, campaigning on promises of welfare expansion and corruption-free governance. The opposition has also sharpened its attack on the DMK’s family politics narrative.
Adding a fresh layer to the contest is actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which is making its electoral debut across all seats, injecting uncertainty into a traditionally bipolar contest amid high-pitched populist rhetoric with the Kollywood star at its centre. TVK chief Vijay is contesting from two seats, Tiruchirappalli East and Perambur, as the party seeks to gatecrash a political system long dominated by the two Dravidian majors.
The campaign has also drawn national political attention, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi weighing in on the stakes. Security has been tightened across the state, with over 1.2 lakh police personnel and 3.4 lakh government staff deployed for poll duty. Counting centres have already been set up ahead of the high-stakes vote.
Total voters: 5.73 crore+ electors
Seats: 234 Assembly constituencies
Candidates: 4,023
Polling hours: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm
Women voters: 2.93 crore
Male voters: 2.80 crore
Third gender voters: 7,728
First-time voters: 14.59 lakh
Service voters: 68,501
Postal votes received: 4.18 lakh
Police deployment: Over 1.2 lakh personnel
Government staff on duty: 3.4 lakh
Counting centres: 62 across the state