Sonamukhi (WB): Accusing the TMC of pursuing appeasement policies in West Bengal, U.P. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urged people to vote for a “double-engine” government to bring in “a truly inclusive regime”.

Addressing a rally at Sonamukhi in Bankura district, CM Adityanath said Bengal is known as the land of Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna, who enriched the country’s spiritual quest.

“But the TMC government disrespects spiritual icons revered worldwide, posing a threat to the Hindu identity of the State,” he alleged.

“Bengal has now become the place of ‘goonda gardi’, which was common in UP nine-ten years back before the BJP came to power there. There was a lack of development and growth in UP. But see the changes now,” he added.

-PTI

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Addressing an election rally at the Kawakhali ground in the northern West Bengal city of Siliguri, PM Modi said the Centre was working to develop the Siliguri corridor, which serves as a gateway to the Northeast, on a massive scale. Urging people to vote for a ‘double engine’ government, Mr. Modi said Bengal will witness development at double the speed.

He alleged that the TMC has destroyed the State during its 15-year tenure, and halted implementation of central schemes, as a result of which less than 25% of work has been completed.- PTI

CM Mamata Banerjee alleged, “BJP bringing in Delimitation Bill to trifurcate Bengal; BJP may merge parts of Bengal with Bihar or Odisha and torture Bengalis there.”- PTI

The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), which traces its roots to the Dalit Panthers Iyakkam (DPI) in Madurai, is testing the waters in Periyakulam (SC) constituency returning to its southern origins for the 2026 Assembly elections.

CPI(M) leader and Kerala PWD Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas on Sunday (April 12, 2026) accused the UDF leaders of attempting to raise “funds” by creating a false impression that they would form a government in the state after the Assembly poll results, which will be declared on May 4.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Riyas said the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) would retain power in the state.

Mr. Riyas, who contested from the Beypore constituency in Kozhikode district in the April 9 Assembly polls seeking a second consecutive term, said the election largely revolved around development issues.

-PTI

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Chief Minister MK Stalin took a morning walk in Paramakudi, engaging with the public. He met with weavers in Emaneswaram to hear their needs and grievances. In the evening, T.N. CM Stalin will campaign in Paramakudi to introduce the DMK and alliance party candidates for the Ramanathapuram district.

While speaking to journalists there, CM Stalin said that former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami was “blabbering out of fear of losing”. 

When asked about the Jananayagan movie leaked online, he said he could not comment on that.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address an election rally in Siliguri in poll-bound West Bengal on Sunday (April 12, 2026), a party leader said.

He will address a rally at Kawakhali Ground in Siliguri in support of BJP candidate Shankar Ghosh and other party nominees in north Bengal.

These programmes are aimed at consolidating the BJP’s support in central and north Bengal, where the party is seeking to make deeper inroads and sharpen its challenge to the ruling TMC, the party leader said.

- PTI

PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss said on Saturday that Tamil Nadu has been witnessing an anti-incumbency wave. It will be reflected on polling day, he said.

Speaking to mediapersons at Arunachaleswar temple here as part of the election campaign for NDA candidates in eight Assembly constituencies in the district, Mr. Anbumani said that the anti-incumbency factor could be gauged from the massive support for the AIADMK-led NDA among women.

“The Chief Minister should come to realise that Assembly polls will be between DMK and the AIADMK-led alliance,” he said.

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Postal ballot voting for more than 5,500 senior citizens aged above 85 and for persons with disabilities in Vellore district commenced on Saturday for Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Election officials said that 5,673 persons with disabilities and senior citizens in the five Assembly constituencies such as Vellore, Katpadi, Gudiyatham, K.V. Kuppam, and Anaicut have been allowed to cast postal ballots. The exercise will be held for three days, starting from April 11 with officials visiting their places on these days.

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West Bengal State Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal urged voters in the State to actively participate in the upcoming Assembly polls, stressing that arrangements have been made for “free and fair” polling in the district.

Drawing a cultural parallel to encourage higher voter turnout, Mr. Agarwal said people should approach polling stations with the same enthusiasm as they do during the festival of Durga Puja.

“Good preparations are underway for the elections in Murshidabad. We are meeting with people. We are also meeting with all the officials and all the observers who came to witness the election. We are prepared for free and fair elections; everyone should come and vote. We are urging the people to come to the booth as they go to the pandals during Durga Puja and cast their vote,” he said.

-ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday (April 11, 2026) targeted each other over the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in the poll-bound State.

“The commitment of the BJP is to implement the Uniform Civil Code. By bringing UCC in the State, we will end the politics of appeasement forever,” Mr. Modi said, addressing a gathering in the Muslim-dominated Jangipur area of Murshidabad district.

Ms. Banerjee strongly denounced the UCC. “They have spoken about UCC in the manifesto... I will vehemently oppose this. They are in majority today so they will pass the Bill. When they won’t be in majority tomorrow, we will revoke the Bill... Free and fair elections are not possible as long as they remain,” she said.

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More than 3.6 crore electors across 16 districts are eligible to exercise their franchise in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections on April 23, according to Election Commission data.

The electoral rolls for the first phase comprise 1.84 crore men, 1.75 crore women and 465 persons of the third gender, the EC data released on Saturday showed.

Among the districts, Murshidabad accounts for the highest number of voters at 50.26 lakh, followed by Purba Medinipur (41.60 lakh) and Paschim Medinipur (37.70 lakh). At the other end, Kalimpong has the lowest number of voters at 2.01 lakh.

- PTI

The Election Commission has transferred 12 officers in Kolkata Police and West Bengal Police in the poll-bound state, officials said.

In the Kolkata Police, several senior officers have been moved out of key positions. DIG, CID Soma Das Mitra has been transferred and posted as Joint Commissioner (Crime), Kolkata Police, they added.

Sudip Sarkar, who was serving as DIG (Personnel), has been brought in as Joint Commissioner (Headquarters), Kolkata Police.

- PTI