Campaigning Ends for Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls and West Bengal’s First Phase; Polling on April 23
Chennai/Kolkata: High-voltage campaigning for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and the first phase of West Bengal Assembly polls concluded on Tuesday evening, ushering in the mandatory 48-hour silence period ahead of voting on Thursday.
In Tamil Nadu, the intense poll campaign across all 234 constituencies came to a close at 6 PM on April 21. Over 5.73 crore voters are set to elect their representatives in a single-phase election on April 23, 2026. Vote counting for the state, along with other ongoing assembly polls, will take place on May 4, 2026.
On the final day of campaigning, senior BJP leader and Union Minister Piyush Goyal addressed rallies in support of the party’s candidates. AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami held a public meeting in Salem, while TVK founder, actor-turned-politician Vijay campaigned vigorously in Chennai. The Election Commission has enforced a strict silence period, during which no campaigning, rallies, or public appeals are allowed.
In West Bengal, campaigning for the first phase covering 152 assembly seats across multiple districts ended similarly on Tuesday evening. The Election Commission has directed district officials and police to strictly implement the Representation of the People Act and maintain the silence period.
Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah addressed multiple rallies on the last day, including key stops at Kulti in Paschim Bardhaman and Siliguri in North Bengal. BJP leader Rekha Gupta participated in a road show in Asansol. On the other side, Trinamool Congress supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed a public meeting in Haldia. Leaders from Congress, Left Front, and other parties also made last-minute appeals across the state.
The first phase of polling in West Bengal is scheduled for April 23, 2026, while the second phase for the remaining 142 seats will be held on April 29, 2026. Results for all seats in the state will also be declared on May 4.
With heavy security arrangements in place, including deployment of central paramilitary forces, authorities have appealed to voters to exercise their franchise peacefully on polling day. A dry day has been declared in the respective areas, and all campaigning-related activities remain prohibited until the conclusion of voting.
The twin polls mark a significant electoral battle in eastern and southern India, with major parties making final appeals on governance, development, and local issues before voters head to the booths.
