Assembly Election 2026 Highlights: No tactic against DMK will work in Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin warns opposition

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The West Bengal government on Tuesday directed district administrations and police to jointly visit vulnerable areas within the next three days as part of confidence-building measures ahead of the assembly elections, an official said.

(PTI Inputs)

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin interacted with DMK supporters during his mega road show ahead of the assembly polls. 

Dilip Ghosh, the leader of the Bengal BJP unit, in an exclusive interview with India Today's Indrajit Kundu, told that there is no point in seeking the votes of the Muslims in the state as they will not switch their loyalties, leaving the parties that they vote for.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK supremo MK Stalin on Tuesday issued a stern warning against the opposition forces in the state, stating that no tactics implemented by the opposition parties would find their way against the ruling party in the state. 

He also criticised Edappadi K. Palaniswami, the opposition leader in the state, for not being clear about his political ideology. 

"Palanisamy has now come up with another 'pearl' of wisdom. Do you know what it is? He said, 'The alliance is different, and the ideology is different.' I ask you, Palanisamy, what exactly is your ideology? Can you explain it? Is it 'grabbing legs,' 'pulling legs,' or 'stabbing someone in the back after getting a free ride'? Is this your ideology? Stalin said while taking a jibe at the BJP-AIADMK alliance that aims to oust the ruling DMK government.

TVK's Vijay to campaign across two constituencies in Chennai tomorrow, including in T Nagar. 

(Input from Anagha)

Speaking during a roadshow in Theni, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, said, "The AIADMK government took steps to strengthen the Mullaperiyar Dam. We had also placed a request with the Chief Minister of Kerala to reinforce the dam. The present Chief Minister, who is in alliance with the Communist Party, has not addressed the issues faced by farmers."

(ANI)

DMK MP A Raja says, "The BJP will not be accepted by the people of Tamil Nadu. The state will not accept any alien ideology, much less the BJP... DMK will win more than 200 seats."

(ANI)

Tamil Nadu Dy CM & DMK Candidate from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni Assembly constituency, Udhayanidhi Stalin, holds an election rally in Padmanabhapuram.

(Source: Udhayanidhi Stalin Social Media)

In its latest allegation against the Election Commission, Trinamool Congress accused the poll body of instructing the police to target and check the vehicles of the party leaders.

(ANI input)

DMK Minister Dayanidhi Maran took a jibe at the BJP, stating that the party, which opposes the distribution of freebies, is now at the full support of it. He also criticised the party for allegedly lying to voters about welfare schemes and several other policies. 

During his interaction with the BJP workers in West Bengal, PM Narendra Modi said that infiltration in the state is threatening a demographic change and it has triggered concern among the citizens. 

He also criticised the Trinamool government for its alleged cut-money (bribery) culture in the state.

TVK supremo C Joseph Vijay holds a mega roadshow in Tiruppur ahead of his public meeting on Tuesday. 

In his mega poll outreach in Bengal's Gangarampur, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress Supremo Mamata Banerjee, asking the people to decide whether to bid farewell on the Bengali New Year. 

"On the Bengali New Year, the people of Bengal must decide to bid farewell to Mamata Banerjee. Are you all ready to remove her? The Bharatiya Janata Party has resolved that after forming the government on May 5, we will work to identify and remove infiltrators from across Bengal and the entire country. Tell me, should infiltrators be removed or not?" he said.

Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying his appearance “looks dull” and alleging that he is unable to “look him in the eye” during public engagements in Bengal.

He further alleged that the BJP has created a centralised system of party financing involving industrialist Gautam Adani, claiming that the party and Adani are closely linked in what he referred to as a “Modani company.” He alleged that Adani provides financial backing and media support to the BJP.

Rahul Gandhi also claimed that the United States has initiated action against Adani and said that despite financial influence, they would not be able to leave India due to ongoing international scrutiny.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that industries are facing a “double blow” in Bengal, alleging that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has shut down factories in the state while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is damaging India’s broader industrial sector.

On the welfare front, the BJP announced Rs 2,000 per month for women heads of households, three free LPG cylinders annually, and a one-time Rs 10,000 payment to every household to offset tax hikes and rising living costs. The manifesto also proposed a Rs 25,000 subsidy for eligible women to purchase e-scooters, Rs 2,000 monthly assistance for those rearing jallikattu bulls, and Rs 10 lakh ex gratia in case of participant deaths.

JP Nadda said it was “auspicious” to release the manifesto on Tamil New Year and noted that the day also marks the 150th birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar. He described Tamil Nadu as “the cradle of the world’s oldest civilisation” and expressed pride in its cultural heritage, invoking figures such as Thiruvalluvar and Subramania Bharati.

The BJP on Tuesday released its Tamil Nadu election manifesto, with party president JP Nadda unveiling a series of welfare and governance promises, while also launching sharp criticism of the ruling DMK.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi arrived in Kolkata and is set to join Humayun Kabir during his nomination filing in Murshidabad. He also raised concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal, stating that his party opposes it and has already moved the Supreme Court on the issue.

Owaisi further said the Election Commission of India has no authority to cancel citizenship and claimed there are discrepancies in the SIR adjudication list in Bengal, urging that these issues be clarified at the earliest.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal will campaign for the DMK in Tamil Nadu, with the party formally extending its support in the Assembly elections. Kejriwal is scheduled to address poll rallies on April 20 and 21, backing Chief Minister MK Stalin and strengthening the alliance’s campaign efforts.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is set to address an election rally in Shamsherganj in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district on April 14 as part of the Congress campaign. The event is part of outreach efforts ahead of two-phase polling on April 23 and 29, with counting on May 4.

Heavy deployment of central forces and police was seen in the Mathabhanga area of Cooch Behar on Monday after clashes between BJP and TMC workers the previous night. Both parties accused each other of attacks during BJP candidate Nisith Adhikari’s campaign. Polling in the constituency is scheduled for April 23.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the BJP would form the government in West Bengal with an absolute majority, expressing confidence that the party would comfortably cross the halfway mark in the Assembly elections.

Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Congress in-charge Girish Chodankar said Rahul Gandhi will campaign in the state for the upcoming Assembly elections, along with other senior party leaders. He added that the campaign will intensify in the coming days, with party cadres and special committees already deployed across all 234 constituencies to support alliance candidates.