Assembly Elections 2026 Live: On BJP's CM face, West Bengal unit chief says 'let people choose first'

With campaigning intensifying ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has unveiled plans for a major roadshow in Kanyakumari district on April 12. Voting across Kerala, Assam and Puducherry concluded on April 9, marking a crucial phase in the 2026 assembly elections, with early turnout indicating steady voter participation across all three regions. While the Election Commission recorded a gradual rise in polling percentages through the day, the electoral narrative was quickly overshadowed by parallel political developments, particularly in West Bengal, where campaigning intensified for the upcoming high-stakes battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC).In West Bengal’s Hooghly district, tensions escalated during a campaign event after clashes broke out between BJP and TMC supporters in the Pursurah Assembly constituency. BJP candidate Biman Ghosh alleged that party workers were attacked and sustained minor injuries, further claiming that an FIR was being lodged with local police. He accused the ruling TMC of deliberately disrupting campaign activities and warned of a strong electoral response, asserting that a BJP “tsunami” would sweep the state in the results scheduled for May 4.Meanwhile, the political battle in Bengal sharpened further as Union home minister Amit Shah unveiled the BJP’s election manifesto titled “Sankalp Patra”, centered on the vision of “Sonar Bangla”. The document promises sweeping governance reforms focused on youth employment, women’s safety, national security, and economic development aligned with the broader “Viksit Bharat” vision. Shah launched sharp criticism of the TMC government, alleging a breakdown of law and order and public disillusionment after 15 years of rule.In a significant policy announcement, Shah also stated that the BJP would implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in West Bengal within six months of coming to power. The manifesto further promised measures to curb infiltration, stop cattle smuggling, and set up a judicial commission led by a retired Supreme Court judge to investigate political violence. Additionally, the party pledged to release white papers on corruption and governance failures.Simultaneously, Abhishek Banerjee of the TMC hit back, alleging voter list manipulation by the Election Commission and the BJP, claiming that lakhs of genuine voters were being unfairly removed. The political confrontation has intensified as Bengal heads toward polling on April 23 and 29, with results due on May 4, setting the stage for a fiercely contested electoral showdown. Tamil Nadu will also go in polls on April 23.