Assembly Election 2026 Highlights: Piyush Goyal campaigns for Union Minister L Murugan in Tamil Nadu

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WATCH: Piyush Goyal campaigns for fellow Union Minister and BJP's candidate from Avinashi Assembly constituency, L Murugan, in Tamil Nadu's Tiruppur.

(With agency inputs)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is holding a meeting in Kharagpur with several BJP leaders to discuss the party's preparedness for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly polls. The meeting is being attended by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and MP Satish Gautam, along with several other party leaders.

Poll in-charges from Medinipur, Kharagpur and Hubli regions are also present at the meeting.

Discussions are focused on ground realities and future political strategy.

Shah is scheduled to stay in Kharagpur tonight.

(With inputs from Aishwarya Paliwal)

The Election Commission has ordered a repoll at booth 239 in Karimganj (North) constituency, Sribhumi district, on April 11. Voting will take place from 7 am to 5 pm at Babyland High English School after clashes between BJP and Congress supporters. The constituency has 14 candidates, including key contenders from BJP, Congress and AIUDF.

-PTI

Holding a poll rally in Kanchipuram, Edappadi K Palaniswami, General Secretary of AIADMK, alleged that the DMK functions like a corporate entity. He denied copying their manifesto, instead accusing DMK of adopting AIADMK’s proposals.

-ANI

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu exudes confidence in the Congress's performance in Assam, where voting for Assembly polls were held on Thursday, April 9.

In a video byte shared by ANI on X, he said, "The Congress is in a strong position in Assam. The people there want change. We will form the government in Kerala. In Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, our alliance partners will defeat the BJP in the elections."

(With agency inputs)

Watch: Union Home Minister Amit Shah holds a BJP roadshow in poll-bound West Bengal's Kharagpur.

(With agency inputs)

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee on Friday hit back at Union Minister Amit Shah after the latter unveiled the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) West Bengal election manifesto, which vows a strict policy against illegal immigration.

Responding to Shah's allegations remarks about infiltrators, Banerjee said, "Amit Shah is rehearsing the same cassette several times about the ghuspetiya. If you are in power to safeguard the borders, then why did such an attack happen in Pahalgham. How come a blast happened in Delhi where 10 people died."

(With inputs from Anirban Sinha Roy)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday lambasted the Trinamool Congress (TMC) while mentioning the floods in Ghatal, at a rally in poll-bound West Bengal's Debra.

"Today, I also want to talk about the Ghatal floods here. After the Ghatal floods occurred, Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi sent a master plan for Ghatal's development worth 1,500 crore rupees. The responsibility for 60% of the funds was to be borne by Prime Minister Modi, but the TMC government trashed the Ghatal master plan. Don't worry, form a BJP government. We will implement the Ghatal master plan within one year and resolve the flood problem," he said.

(With agency inputs)

Watch: TVK chief and actor Vijay holds an election campaign in Karaikudi ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu.

(With agency inputs)

A case has been registered against two NDA candidates, including a BJP leader, in Puducherry – where voting for Assembly elections took place on Thursday, April – for allegedly attempting to influence voters from the Union Territory's fishermen community voters by involving the Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in canvassing activities.

According to officials, the complaint was lodged by Returning Officer KP Sreejith with the Muthialpet Police. The accused include BJP candidate VP Ramalingam and IJK candidate Jose Charles Martin.

The complaint alleges that both candidates convened a meeting at Vaithikuppam on March 29. The gathering was reportedly attended by fishermen from Puducherry and Tamil Nadu, along with the Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka.

Authorities noted that the Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka is a political appointee and not a seasoned diplomat, raising concerns over the nature of their participation in the meeting.

Based on Sreejith's complaint, the police have registered a case under sections 123(3) Representation of People Act, 174, 223, 3 (5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act.

(Based on Pramod Madhav's inputs)

Janata Unnayan Party founder Humayun Kabir has reacted to his viral video, claiming that a clip from December 19 is being circulated months later to target him. Questioning West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, he asked what action had been taken in the intervening period and asserted that he would respond to the matter in the High Court.

Kabir further alleged that Banerjee shares good relations with the BJP and RSS and claimed that the issue is being used against him in a coordinated manner.

Responding to AIMIM’s decision to withdraw its alliance with his party, Kabir said it was for them to explain, adding that he had no comment on the development.

Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi said voter turnout has increased by around 1.6–1.7 per cent compared to the last Assembly elections, expressing satisfaction over the higher participation.

Speaking to reporters a day after the polls, Gogoi claimed the party has received strong feedback from voters who, he said, have “silently voted for a new government” in the state. Exuding confidence, Gogoi asserted that the results on May 4 would see the formation of a Congress-led government in Assam.

Speaking in Malda, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh minister Swatantra Dev Singh credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s leadership, and the efforts of party workers for strengthening what he described as the “double-engine government.”

He said welfare schemes aimed at the poor, farmers, and rural communities are focused on ensuring dignity, housing, food, healthcare, and education for all. Singh added that public trust in the Prime Minister and the government’s vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas” continues to translate into strong electoral support and one-sided victories in assembly elections.

A video dated April 5 showing Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar addressing a gathering in Bongaigaon, Assam, has surfaced online, triggering a political controversy. In the clip, Kumar is heard making sharp remarks against the BJP, alleging that “all thieves have gathered together and joined the BJP."

He also referred to a conversation with a journalist on the issue of infiltration, saying that the “biggest infiltrator has come from Gujarat” and should be “chased out” along with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The resurfaced video has drawn strong reactions, with political opponents criticizing the remarks while the Congress has yet to issue a formal response.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah released the party manifesto in West Bengal, outlining welfare and development commitments. He announced a sports university in North Bengal to boost regional talent and infrastructure. Farmers are promised Rs 9,000 per year assistance, while young entrepreneurs will get a Rs 5 lakh grant along with a zero interest Rs 5 lakh loan. He assured transparent recruitment of teachers, including agitating teachers, and proposed an institute for Bengal theatre industry.

The BJP manifesto promises support for rice, potato and mango cultivation, along with registration of fishermen under the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana to develop Bengal as a fish-export hub. It also pledges revival of tea gardens, strengthening Darjeeling branding and modernisation of the jute industry. Healthcare and education proposals include Ayushman Bharat expansion, free HPV vaccination, cancer screening, and setting up AIIMS, IIT and IIM in North Bengal, along with a Vande Mataram museum and recognition of regional languages.

The manifesto outlines major welfare commitments, including Dearness Allowance for government employees and pensioners and implementation of the 7th Pay Commission. It promises one crore new jobs and self-employment opportunities over five years, along with ₹3,000 monthly support for unemployed youth. For women, it includes Rs 3,000 monthly assistance, women-only police battalions, Durga Suroksha Squads, and 33% reservation in state government jobs.

The BJP’s ‘Bhoroshar Shopoth’ manifesto pledges a strict crackdown on infiltration to ensure national security, along with a White Paper exposing 15 years of alleged TMC corruption and law-and-order breakdown. It also promises an end to syndicate activities and the “cut money” culture. The document further includes implementation of UCC and strict laws against cattle smuggling, along with a framework to ensure freedom of religious practices in the state.