Assembly Election 2026 Highlights: Stalin says DMK-led alliance will win over 200 seats across Tamil Nadu

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK supremo MK Stalin on Saturday said that the SPA alliance led by his party will win more than 200 seats in the upcoming Assembly polls in the state. He also launched a blistering attack on his rival Edappadi K Palaniswami and the BJP on a number of issues, particularly accusing the saffron party of trying to use the women's quota as a "weapon" against the opposition.

(With inputs from PTI)

Video: Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin campaigns in Tiruchirappalli in support of Inigo Irudayaraj, the DMK's candidate from Tiruchirappalli East constituency for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.

(With agency inputs)

An all-party meeting was convened in Kerala's Kannur district by the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) on Saturday in the wake of post-poll violence in the Payyannur Assembly constituency. 

It was decided in the meeting that strict action would be taken to curb further provocations and cases would be registered in all incidents reported so far.

CPI(M) rebel leader V Kunhikrishnan had contested as an Independent with support from the UDF in the constituency.

After the end of voting on Thursday, several incidents of arson were reported from across the constituency, prompting the meeting chaired by ADM in-charge K Balagopalan.

A government press release said that the meeting decided that no statements or remarks defaming political leaders or candidates personally should be made.

(With inputs from PTI)

Union Minister and BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar on Saturday launched a scathing attack against the Mamata Banerjee-led Chief Minister of West Bengal, saying the people will "uproot" her "anti-women government" in the upcoming Assembly polls. 

"Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi has stated today that there is a need for change and change will happen, and it won't just be a change of flags but a transformation of West Bengal's fundamental systems... This time, the entire Bengal will uproot and throw away the anti-women government of Mamata Banerjee... After our government comes to power, we will provide free tickets to women in government buses and along with that, 3,000 rupees every month," he said in a video shared on X by news agency ANI.

(With agency inputs)

Addressing an election rally in poll-bound West Bengal's Birbhum district, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee trained guns at the country's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission, alleging that of the 90 lakh names deleted in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state, 57.5 lakh are Hindu Bengali voters.

"They are branding Hindu Bengalis as Bangladeshis and striking their names off the electoral rolls," he claimed at the rally.

(With inputs from PTI)

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sushmita Dev on Saturday lashed out at the country's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission (EC) over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in West Bengal. She also exuded confidence that her party will return to power in the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. 

"During SIR in Bengal, the names of many Hindus were also cut and the names of people from the Muslim community were also cut. We have been saying from the beginning that we are not against SIR, but in such a large state, the Election Commission did this by breaking all laws and rules, something that has never happened in the country before. There is an alliance between BJP and the Election Commission in Bengal... It is certain that TMC government will come in Bengal," Dev said in a video byte shared by news agency ANI on X.

Nearly 90 lakh names have been deleted from electoral rolls across West Bengal as part of the SIR exercise.

(With agency inputs)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday launched a sharp attack against West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee by invoking the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder case and the alleged sexual exploitation of women in Sandeshkhali. 

"The RG Kar incident has shamed Bengal in the eyes of the entire world. For years, the TMC goons exploited women in Sandeshkhali. These infiltrators kept exploiting women, but Mamata Banerjee turned a blind eye and sat quietly. Whoever has dared to dishonour women under Mamata Banerjee's patronage, the BJP government will put them behind bars," he said addressing a public gathering in the poll-bound state.

(With agency inputs)

Speaking at a rally in Jangipur, PM Modi said, "The land of Bengal has broken the arrogance of many. First, the people thought a lesson to Congress. Then, they punished the Left Front. Now, the people of Bengal will teach a lesson to the TMC."

"Bengal has decided to embrace real change (poriborton)," says PM Modi in Jangipur. 

Speaking at a rally in Jangipur, which was once represented by former President Pranab Mukherjee, PM Modi said, "We will implement UCC in West Bengal and end the politics of appeasement."

The Election Commission of India has appointed K Manivannan as the new Home Secretary of Tamil Nadu. 

DMK Spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai said, "Edappadi Palaniswami is the most desperate man in Tamil Nadu. He is being hammered from all sides. Yesterday, Sasikala – the very person at whose feet he once fell to get the Chief Minister’s post – launched a scathing attack on him. He is confused and doesn't know how to respond."

(ANI)

While addressing a public rally in Purba Bardhaman, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "The BJP will establish industries here that will employ lakhs of young people. The Bengal BJP has also announced assistance for unemployed young people. Furthermore, it has been declared that age relaxations will be granted to those young individuals who have become overage for government recruitment due to the TMC's malpractices."

(ANI)

"Every infiltrator will have to leave this country. Even those who supported such infiltrators will not be spared," said PM Modi at a rally in East Bardhman. 

"The people of Bengal will start to benefit from the Centre's various schemes once we come to power," says PM Modi in East Bardhman. 

"The TMC is creating fear in the minds of people, claiming that the BJP will end several schemes in the state. But take this in writing: The BJP will never end any scheme. Instead, it will end corruption," PM Modi told the gathering in East Bardhman. 

Speaking at a rally in East Bardhman, PM Modi reiterated the six guarantees that he made during the April 9 rally in Haldia. "The BJP will end the rule of fear under the TMC," he said.  

"Assam, Puducherry and Kerala have seen very high voter turnout this time. Whenever there has been higher voter turnouts, it has benefited the BJP," said PM Modi during a rally in East Bardhman. 

"People of East Bardhaman are ready for change," said PM Narendra Modi at a rally in East Bardhman. 

"People in East Burdhaman will do a 'Khela' on May 4. This is just a trailer," said PM Modi at a rally in East Bardhaman. 

Tamilisai Soundararajan, the BJP candidate from Mylapore, said, "The previous MLA misused public money and kept himself out of reach, but we will remain accessible to the people. Every street needs care, and change is certain in Mylapur and across Tamil Nadu. There will be a change of government, and NDA will win." 

(ANI)

The Election Commission team and Tamil Nadu police inspected the vehicles for cash or gift items ahead of Assembly elections. 

(ANI)

The ISF has been accused of bombing a Trinamool rally in South 24 Parganas district. According to police, bombs were hurled during a rally led by Trinamool Congress leader Khairul Islam on Friday night. 

(Prasenjit Saha)

Speaking to India Today's Apoorva, DMK supremo MK Stalin accused the AIADMK of surrendering to the BJP at the Centre. "The AIADMK in Tamil Nadu has become a slave to New Delhi. That's why the BJP is controlling them," he said. 
 

"No matter who comes, it doesn't worry us. We will do our work," said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin at a rally in Pudukottai. 

(Apoorva)

Amit Shah had tacitly said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was more interested in positioning Abhishek, her nephew, as her successor at the helm of the state government instead of addressing people's sufferings. Read more here. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to hold three rallies across as many Assembly constituencies.

Onda Assembly constituency – 11 AM: Ramsagar Anchal ground, Bankura 

Chatna Assembly constituency – 12:30 PM: Ethani Chantipahadi, Bankura

Bagmundi Assembly constituency – 2 PM: Kushaldih cricket ground, Purulia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold three election campaign on Saturday. 

11.30 am: Purbsthali Dakshin

13.45 pm: Jangipur

15.45 pm: Uttar Dinajpur and Dakshin Dinajpur Junction