Assembly Election 2026 Highlights: Bengal hostage row handed to NIA, Supreme Court issues notices to officials

All updates to this live blog have ended.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, along with BJP candidates and leaders, was seen dancing to an election song during a campaign rally in Naharkatia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday welcomed the passage of the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2026 in Parliament, calling it a major step toward improving both ease of living and ease of doing business.

In a post on X, Modi said the legislation strengthens a trust-based governance framework aimed at empowering citizens while removing outdated rules and regulations.

“A big boost to ‘Ease of Living’ and ‘Ease of Doing Business’,” he wrote, adding that the Bill marks the end of provisions that are no longer relevant in the current regulatory landscape.

The Prime Minister said the law would help ensure faster resolution of cases and reduce the burden of litigation through decriminalisation measures.

He also highlighted the consultative process behind the Bill’s drafting, noting that it incorporated inputs from multiple stakeholders.

“My compliments to all those who have given their insights towards the drafting of the Bill and supported it in Parliament,” Modi said.

The Jan Vishwas Bill is aimed at rationalising compliance requirements and promoting a more facilitative regulatory environment for individuals and businesses.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will probe the Malda incident in which judicial officers were allegedly held hostage and faced an attempted attack. The Election Commission has handed over the investigation to the NIA, terming the matter serious. The Supreme Court, meanwhile, took note of the incident on Thursday, with a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant issuing show-cause notices to senior state administration officials and calling the episode “unfortunate.”
 

The Congress Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting is underway in Delhi to finalise the party’s candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief M K Stalin on Thursday alleged that the BJP-led Centre rejected proposals for Metro Rail projects in Coimbatore and Madurai, while approving one for Agra despite its smaller population. Addressing a rally in Coimbatore, Stalin accused the BJP of remembering Tamil Nadu only during elections. Highlighting the DMK’s manifesto, he reiterated the promise of a Rs 8,000 coupon for women and urged voters to back the party, asserting that it delivers on its commitments and remains focused on the state’s welfare.

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister and DMK candidate from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni, Udhayanidhi Stalin, alleged that "Delhi is trying to take control over our state".

"They are not giving any funds or any schemes for Tamil Nadu, but they are trying to take control over the state through AIADMK. That is why we are continuously telling that this election is between Delhi versus Tamil Nadu and we are very sure that team Tamil Nadu will win," he added. 

Tension flared outside the SDO office in Cooch Behar after BJP and Trinamool workers clashed over the filing of nomination papers. Police and security personnel were deployed at the spot to bring the situation under control. Further details are awaited.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday told BJP booth workers that the party’s performance in the Thiruvananthapuram local body polls reflects a growing support base ahead of the April 9 Assembly election. In a virtual interaction, he said Kerala is not just choosing a new government this time, but “a new system”, asserting that the BJP-NDA is witnessing a strong wave in its favour.

PM said Thiruvananthapuram has “shattered” the long-standing perception of alternating power between the UDF and LDF, forcing both to target the BJP. Alleging that people are “fed up with loot” by the two fronts, he urged the cadre to step up efforts, invoking cricketer Sanju Samson as an example of delivering under pressure and asking workers to intensify outreach on polling day.

AIMIM leader Mofakkerul Islam, an advocate by profession and the party’s candidate from Itahar in the 2021 Assembly polls, led protests in Malda’s Sujapur on Wednesday, sources said.

In a video from the protest, Islam can be seen challenging officials on camera, calling out the district administration and police. “Oye DM, oye SP… who is the CID? Where is the IB? Where are you all? Come here,” he is heard saying.

The AIMIM has confirmed that Islam continues to be associated with the party. He is currently under the police scanner, with authorities probing his role in the SIR officials hostage incident.

(Indrajit Kundu)
 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Kerala needs a “double-engine” government that not only delivers on its responsibilities but also effectively implements central schemes, while addressing BJP booth workers. He asserted that Thiruvananthapuram has set a new precedent in the state’s politics, breaking the long-held pattern where the Left and the Congress alternated in power regardless of governance outcomes. According to him, this shift has pushed both the UDF and LDF to target the BJP instead of each other.

Actor-turned-politician Vijay was addressing an election rally after filing his nomination papers from the Tiruchirappalli East Assembly constituency when a woman fainted at the venue, likely due to heat. More information is awaited.

Addressing a rally in Murshidabad on Thursday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condemned the Election Commission, accusing it of “failing to protect” officials on duty. She alleged that the poll body, which deployed its own officers in the state’s civil and police administration following the announcement of Assembly elections, had “totally failed to control law and order”.

Banerjee also targeted the Centre, demanding the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah over what she described as large-scale transfers of officers amid the ongoing election process.

Eighteen people have been arrested so far by West Bengal Police in connection with the Malda incident, where judicial officers engaged in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise were gheraoed by protesters over the deletion of names from electoral rolls. The arrests come a day after seven judicial officers were held for several hours on Wednesday before being rescued by security forces.

(Anupam Mishra)

Campaigning for the BJP in West Bengal, BJP leader Smriti Irani alleged, "Corruption and TMC, violence and TMC have become synonymous with each other".

"The people of West Bengal have resolved that to build a corruption-free West Bengal, to eliminate the atmosphere of fear, to preserve women's dignity, establishing a BJP government in West Bengal has become imperative," she said. 

Mamata Banerjee, addressing a rally, said the protesters in Malda incident were not from her party, calling for a thorough investigation.

“The protestors were not from our party. We fought against SIR. That is why 20 lakh names were involved. But who attacked the judges and held them hostage in Malda? I don’t know who they were,” she said.

Banerjee maintained that the incident was not planned by her party and demanded that the authorities identify those responsible, adding, “It was not our intention, we have no plans regarding this. I want an investigation into who they were.”

"Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Himanta Biswa Sarma have made a land ATM in Assam. They snatch land from the people and give it to big industrialists," Rahul Gandhi alleged in Assam rally.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, calling him the “most corrupt CM” in India.

Addressing an election rally in Assam in support of party candidate Raton Engti for Bokajan constituency, Gandhi alleged, “India’s most corrupt CM is Himanta Biswa Sarma, and his family is also No. 1 in corruption. The Congress government will take action against him. Though he is boasting now, he will be completely silent after that.”

Gandhi further claimed that Sarma is running Assam through syndicates and accused him of being “fully controlled by Modi due to his corruption charges,” intensifying the political rhetoric ahead of the upcoming state elections.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in UDF rally in Kerala’s Kollam, said, "Our PM has 'handed' our energy security over to US."

At a rally in Malda, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sharply criticised central agencies, accusing them of targeting the state with raids. Addressing the crowd, she said, “You are linking agencies to Bengal. You are doing raids in Bengal. Don’t you have shame! Do these raids on the houses of your leaders.”

Warning her audience about potential retaliation, she added, “I will ask people to be careful. They will hurl brickbats at you. Then they will turn up the heat on you. Finally, they will unleash the ED and CBI against you. Be careful.” 

Her remarks come hours after the Supreme Court strongly criticised West Bengal officials over a gheraoed incident in Malda where seven judicial officers involved in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in poll-bound West Bengal were allegedly gheraoed for around nine hours. READ MORE