Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar hailed the voters of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu on Thursday (April 23, 2026) for recording the highest ever polling percentage since independence.

While Tamil Nadu recorded 84.69% polling percentage, West Bengal (Phase-I) registered 91.78%. Previously, the highest poll participation in Tamil Nadu was 78.29% in 2011, and in the same year West Bengal recorded 84.72%.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. S. S. Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, kept a close watch on the polling via live webcasting which was available in 100% of polling stations in both states, the ECI said.

Congress leader and candidate from Berhampore Assembly Constituency, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, alleged that a party polling agent was attacked by workers of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) during the first phase of voting in the West Bengal Assembly Elections.Speaking to ANI on Thursday (April 23), Chowdhury claimed that the incident took place amid polling activity and accused ruling party workers of involvement. Speaking to ANI, Mr. Chowdhury said, “Our polling agents have been attacked by some goons here. These goons are from the government,” he said.

- ANI

With polling for the Tamil Nadu Assembly election concluded on April 23, the election commission officials shifted the sealed EVMs, VVPATs, and other poll material to the strong rooms of the designated counting centres across the state.

The EVMs were transported with heavy police and armed forces protection to 62 counting centres where the counting for all the 234 Assembly constituencies will take place on May 4.

Multi-layered police protection has been provided at the designated counting centres. The strong rooms at the counting centres are guarded by the Central Armed Police Force, Tamil Nadu Special Police, and local police round the clock, an official said.

The Election Commission issued a fresh set of post-poll guidelines for the West Bengal Assembly elections, laying down strict protocols for handling surveillance cameras and video data after voting concludes, a senior official said.

Under the new guidelines issued on Thursday (April 24), SD cards used in polling booth cameras cannot be removed immediately after voting ends, and officials concerned will only be permitted to dismount the cameras, which must then remain under the sector officer’s supervision, he said.

“The SD cards can be removed only at the designated data collection and receiving centre in the presence of the Assistant Returning Officer,” he said.

-PTI

The recently installed BJP-led government in Bihar is all set to seek a vote of confidence in the state legislative assembly on Friday (April 24).

According to the schedule of legislative business for the one-day special session, released by the Vidhan Sabha secretariat, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary will move the motion, proposing that “the House reposes its trust in the current council of Ministers in the State”.

Mr. Choudhary became the first BJP leader to head a government in the State earlier this month following the resignation of JD(U) president Nitish Kumar, who gave up the top post upon getting elected to the Rajya Sabha.

- PTI