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Published on: Apr 17, 2026 12:26:57 PM IST
As the 2026 Assembly elections progress, campaigning has intensified across key states, especially in West Bengal, where the contest is turning into a direct battle between the ruling TMC and the BJP.
- 49 minutes ago‘Demarcation as a worrying façade’: K Chidambaram supports women’s quota
- 51 minutes agoTMC conspires to add hackers as voters: Fadnavis
- 53 minutes agoMann accuses the BJP of using emergency raids as a “set-up” for the 2027 elections
- 56 minutes agoPolice book TVK chief Vijay for violating poll law
- 59 minutes agoHimanta criticizes TMC for “spreading misinformation” about meat and fish
- 1 hour and 1 minute agoUdhayanidhi Stalin addresses a rally in Kangayam
- 1 hour and 6 minutes agoAnnamalai supports women’s quota, accuses Stalin
- 1 hour and 8 minutes agoDMK ministers campaign in Tiruchirappalli
- 1 hour and 18 minutes agoMamata’s ‘Bengali-Birudi’ attack on BJP
summary
Assembly elections are underway with Tamil Nadu and West Bengal to vote later in the month.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The 2026 Assembly elections are being held in phases, with polling in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry completing on April 9. West Bengal will vote in two phases on April 23 and 29, while Tamil Nadu will go to the polls on April 23. The vote counting is scheduled for May 4. In West Bengal, the election campaign intensified into a direct contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
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Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accused the TMC of spreading misinformation about food restrictions, while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee responded by calling the BJP a “Bangla Birudi” and vowed to protect the state’s identity and inclusive ethos.
In Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK, which leads the NDA alliance, has released multiple lists of candidates covering a large number of seats. Actor-politician Vijay, founder of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), is facing a police case for allegedly violating electoral conduct rules during an election campaign.
Follow all updates here:
April 17, 2026 at 12:19:02 pm
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Assembly elections 2026 live: ‘Demarcation as interface a concern’: K Chidambaram supports women’s quota
Assembly Elections 2026 Live: Congress leader Karti Chidambaram on Friday said the DMK supports the Women’s Reservation Bill but raised concerns about “making the delimitation bill as a front” to push other changes, calling it a “matter of concern”, according to news agency ANI.
April 17, 2026 at 12:17:36 pm
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Assembly Elections 2026 Live: TMC conspires to add hackers as voters: Fadnavis
Assembly Elections 2026 Live: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Friday alleged that the TMC tried to include infiltrators in the electoral rolls and opposed the audit exercise to gain electoral advantage. He said the process has constitutional safeguards and must be conducted periodically to remove ineligible voters.
April 17, 2026 at 12:15:54 pm
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2026 Assembly elections live: Mann accuses BJP of using emergency raids as ‘set-up’ for 2027 elections
2026 Assembly Elections Live: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday claimed that the BJP has started preparations for the 2027 Assembly elections by targeting opposition leaders through ED and income tax raids, news agency ANI reported.
Citing recent actions against AAP leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal and minister Sanjeev Arora, Mann claimed that agencies are being used to “harass” political opponents.
April 17, 2026 at 12:12:08 pm
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Assembly Elections 2026 Live: Police book TVK chief Vijay for violating poll law
Assembly Elections 2026 Live: Chennai Police had earlier registered a case against actor-politician Vijay over alleged violation of election rules during a Perambur campaign event, according to news agency IANS.
The party pointed to the lack of security.
April 17, 2026 at 12:09:13 pm
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Assembly Elections 2026 Live: Himanta Sarma slams TMC for ‘spreading misinformation’ on meat, fish
Assembly Elections 2026 Live: Assam President Himanta Biswa Sarma has accused the TMC of “spreading misinformation” about meat and fish consumption. He said the BJP government would only restrict beef and cattle smuggling.
“Mamata Banerjee is worried that once the BJP government is formed in West Bengal, the beef trade here will stop,” he claimed.
April 17, 2026 at 12:07:06 pm
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Assembly Elections 2026 Live: Udhayanidhi Stalin addresses a rally in Kangayam
Assembly Elections 2026 Live: Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Friday spoke at a rally in Kangayam. He canvassed for DMK candidates and appealed to voters to support the ruling alliance ahead of the Assembly elections.
April 17, 2026 at 12:02:37 pm
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Assembly Elections 2026 Live: K Annamalai supports women’s quota, accuses Stalin
Assembly elections 2026 live: BJP leader K. Annamalai reserved 33% for women in legislative assemblies, saying it would help women from rural and ordinary backgrounds enter politics. He added that the move could increase Lok Sabha seats by about 50%.
On demarcation, Tamil Nadu minister MK Stalin accused of making “false claims”, saying the share of southern states would remain the same even after the expansion.
April 17, 2026 at 12:00:12 pm
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Assembly elections 2026 live: DMK ministers campaign in Tiruchirappalli
Assembly Elections 2026 Live: Tamil Nadu Ministers KN Nehru and Anbel Mahesh Boyyamugi on Friday campaigned in Tiruchirappalli.
The leaders held a padayatra in Gandhi Market area in support of East Tiruchirappalli candidate Inigo Irudayraj, interacting with traders and residents as they sought votes. They assured that the market will not be transferred and asked voters to support the DMK’s ‘Rising Sun’ symbol.
April 17, 2026 at 11:50:59 am
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Assembly Elections 2026 Live: Mamata’s ‘Bengali-Birudi’ attack on BJP
Assembly Elections 2026 Live: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday intensified her attack on the BJP. She called the party “Bangla-birodhi” (against the Bengalis) and claimed that she would not allow “Bangla-birodhi zamindars” to harm people, news agency ANI reported.
During her election campaign in Cooch Behar, she promised to protect Bengal’s rights, secular fabric and inclusive spirit. She asked voters to support Trinamool Congress symbol ‘Goraful’.
The state will vote in two phases on April 23 and 29, with counting to begin on May 4, in what is expected to be a direct contest between TMC and BJP.
Home India News 2026 Assembly Elections Live: Mamata Banerjee calls BJP ‘Bangla Birudi’, Himanta Sarma accuses TMC of misleading
