Nearly 37 per cent voter turnout was recorded until 11.00 am during repolling in 15 booths across two Assembly constituencies in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, an official said.

Polling was underway without incident in 11 booths of Magrahat Paschim and four in Diamond Harbour, where the Election Commission of India ordered a repoll a day earlier following reports of electoral malpractices.

Voting began at 7.00 am and will continue until 6.00 pm. By 11.00 am, turnout stood at 36.99 per cent, officials said. Magrahat Paschim recorded 38.2 per cent turnout, while Diamond Harbour saw 35.92 per cent, according to polling officials.

"So far, polling has been peaceful with none of the two Assembly constituencies reporting any incident of violence or unrest," an ECI official told PTI. "We have an adequate number of central forces in the two constituencies. Webcasting is also being conducted, and we are monitoring the proceedings."

Voting in these constituencies was originally held in the second phase of the state elections on 29 April. The repoll decision was taken based on reports from returning officers, observers and “material circumstances”, an ECI official said.

In Magrahat Paschim, Trinamool Congress candidate Md Samim Ahamed Molla is contesting against BJP’s Goursundar Ghosh. Abdul Majid Halder of the Congress and ISF nominee Abdul Aziz Al Hassan are also in the fray.

In Diamond Harbour, TMC’s Panna Lal Halder is up against BJP candidate Dipak Kumar Halder, while Congress’s Goutam Bhattacharya and CPI(M)’s Samar Naiya are among the other contestants.

The BJP had alleged widespread electoral malpractices at certain polling stations in both constituencies, which fall under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha seat represented by TMC national general-secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

The Election Commission had deputed special observer Subrata Gupta to verify the allegations on the ground. The poll panel is also expected to decide on Saturday, 2 May, whether repolling will be required in the Falta Assembly constituency.

The West Bengal Assembly elections were conducted in two phases — 23 April and 29 April — under extensive security arrangements. Counting of votes is scheduled for 4 May.

With PTI inputs

In a politically charged special session of the Punjab Assembly on Friday, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s government secured a confidence motion, transforming what began as a defensive exercise against alleged BJP “Operation Lotus” fears into a dramatic demonstration of legislative strength just months before the state heads to elections.

The session was convened by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government primarily to silence mounting speculation that the BJP was attempting to destabilise the Punjab government by engineering defections within AAP ranks. Rumours had intensified after former AAP leader Raghav Chadha, now with the BJP, claimed to be in touch with over 60 AAP MLAs — a claim that triggered political anxiety and prompted the Mann government to seek an explicit vote of confidence for the next six months.

AAP’s broader political calculation was clear: if the government remained intact through this period, Punjab would be close enough to elections to make any toppling attempt politically futile.

However, as proceedings began, the Opposition shifted the focus dramatically. Rather than debating defections or majority numbers, Congress and BJP leaders launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Mann’s conduct inside the House.

Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira questioned the Chief Minister’s behaviour, while Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa escalated the confrontation by demanding that Assembly doors be shut immediately and all legislators undergo breath analyser and alcohol tests. Bajwa alleged Mann appeared to be under the influence, sparking unprecedented uproar.

The Assembly descended into chaos as Congress MLAs stormed the well of the House, shouting slogans and demanding an immediate “alcometer test.” BJP state chief Sunil Jakhar joined the chorus from outside, while the Punjab BJP staged a parallel “Janata Di Vidhan Sabha,” attempting to politically counter the official session.

Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan rejected demands for immediate testing, calling the move disruptive. Amid the escalating confrontation, Mann briefly exited the House, while Congress legislators staged a walkout. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema dismissed all allegations as baseless and accused the Opposition of manufacturing distractions to avoid the real issue — whether the government still commanded majority support.

With the Opposition boycotting the vote, the confidence motion was passed unanimously by those present, giving Mann the symbolic victory he sought.

The trust vote now gives Mann both political breathing room and a narrative of resilience. He also announced he would carry a copy of the passed confidence motion when he meets the President on 5 May.

For now, Bhagwant Mann has weathered the storm — not without turbulence, but with enough numbers to turn a session of suspicion into a statement of survival.

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday invoked the teachings of Gautama Buddha to underline his political message, asserting that nations which have reached the pinnacle of progress have followed the Buddha’s path, even as he warned of “continuous threats” to India’s Constitution and democratic values.

Speaking on the occasion of Buddha Purnima at the party office in Lucknow, Yadav said, “Among the knowledge people have imparted from time to time, the greatest contribution has been that of Lord Buddha… The nations that stand at the pinnacle today have followed the path shown by Lord Buddha. The message he delivered has brought about a change.”

Addressing an audience that included Buddhist monks, he struck a more political note, saying, “There are forces which are posing a continuous threat to the Constitution given by Babasaheb Ambedkar and to democracy. I am confident that the ‘Baudh bhikshus’ will bless us to be successful.”

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also outlined his party’s vision for developing key Buddhist sites in the state. He said places associated with Buddha — such as Sarnath and Kushinagar — would be further developed to connect followers of the Buddhist path and the “bahujan samaj” with the global community.

Taking aim at the current government, Yadav alleged that the ambitious Maitreya Project in Kushinagar had been stalled. “Some people did not want the Maitreya Project… If it had been completed, people from across the world would have come and pledged to follow the path of Lord Buddha. However, under the current government, that project has been left half-finished,” he said.

He also spoke about the Kushinagar International Airport, claiming that while it was initiated earlier, his government completed its construction. “We assure you that the international airport will be started and an international city will be built,” Yadav said, in a swipe at political opponents.

Blending spiritual homage with political critique, Yadav’s remarks sought to position the Buddha’s philosophy as both a moral compass and a framework for governance, while reiterating his party’s commitment to constitutional values and development of cultural heritage sites.

With PTI inputs

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Friday warned that if the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls influences the outcome of the West Bengal Assembly elections, it could establish a troubling precedent that political parties must guard against.

Responding to a question about the standoff outside an EVM strongroom in Kolkata's Bhabanipur on Thursday night, Abdullah said West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was within her rights to deploy party workers to watch over the machines.

"I have always said that I do not accept pre-poll rigging, and that safeguarding the EVMs after the polls is our responsibility. We used to do the same when there were ballot boxes; we would keep our people outside the strongroom. So, it was Mamata Banerjee's right to keep people outside the strongroom, and she did it," he told reporters.

Abdullah drew a distinction between alleged manipulation of electronic voting machines and concerns around electoral roll revisions, asserting that irregularities were now occurring through the latter.

"There is a difference between EVM (hacking) and what they are doing through SIR. Today, stealing (votes) is not happening through EVMs but the SIR, unfortunately, through the Election Commission," he said.

He described the ongoing West Bengal election as a significant test for opposition parties, cautioning that any impact of the SIR on results would have wider implications.

"This West Bengal election is a huge challenge for all of us because, God forbid, if the SIR shows its results, it can be very dangerous for all of us. We have to save ourselves from their attempt to rig the election by deleting voters from the voter list. I do not think anything can be done through the EVMs," he added.

On exit polls, Abdullah expressed scepticism, saying they would not reflect the final outcome when votes are counted on Monday, 4 May.

"Which exit poll has been right till now? Five years ago, when the elections took place in West Bengal, all the exit polls had given the government to the BJP. But what was the result? We do not have to wait for long; the results will come on Monday," he said.

The chief minister added that, in his view, "all these exit polls will be proven wrong once again".

Without naming anyone, he also remarked, "One of them has refused to publish his exit poll because perhaps he did not like the results."

A day after West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee spent hours at a counting centre in Bhabanipur alleging possible malpractice, state’s chief electoral officer Manoj Agarwal on Friday dismissed the claims, asserting that the process remains secure and transparent.

“There is no scope for any wrongdoing given the arrangements made,” Agarwal told reporters, adding that strong rooms housing EVMs are under round-the-clock CCTV surveillance. “One should have reason and evidence for making allegations,” he said, terming the accusations baseless.

The controversy comes ahead of the 4 May counting of votes, with tensions rising over the integrity of stored electronic voting machines. Banerjee had visited the Bhabanipur counting centre late Thursday night, staying for nearly four hours and warning that any attempt to tamper with the process would not be tolerated.

Senior officials said elaborate security measures are in place across counting centres. At Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in Kolkata — where EVM strong rooms for several constituencies are housed — additional Central Armed Police Forces and armed state police have been deployed. “Security is being supervised at the highest level, with senior officers monitoring the situation,” said joint commissioner of police Rupesh Kumar.

The ruling Trinamool Congress, however, maintained a cautious stance. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said workers and candidates were keeping strict vigil at counting centres on instructions from Banerjee. He also expressed concern over possible unauthorised movement during the handling of postal ballots. “Our polling agents and candidates have been alerted,” he said.

State minister Shashi Panja, who had joined a sit-in outside the counting centre on Thursday, emphasised the need for transparency. “There must be transparency in the process,” she said.

TMC leaders had earlier alleged that CCTV footage showed outsiders inside strong rooms “fiddling with ballot papers”. The Election Commission, however, rejected the claim, clarifying that officials seen in the footage were engaged in routine segregation of postal ballots and that all protocols were being strictly followed.

By Friday morning, the situation appeared calmer. Sakhawat Memorial School in Bhabanipur, which witnessed high drama overnight, returned to normalcy with security personnel maintaining vigil.

Officials reiterated that stringent safeguards are in place across Kolkata and other districts to ensure a smooth and secure counting process, even as political rhetoric continues to intensify.

With PTI inputs

The Indian National Congress (INC) on Friday sharpened its attack on Union Home minister Amit Shah during his visit to Ladakh, accusing him of sidestepping key local demands even as he participates in a high-profile exposition of sacred Buddhist relics.

Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh took to X to criticise the minister, saying, “The Home minister is in Ladakh today basking in the glory of the Piprahwa relics, while remaining silent on the demands of the people there for statehood, Sixth Schedule status, and protection of land and employment.”

Ramesh also invoked history to underline his point, recalling that India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had engaged more directly with Ladakh’s aspirations during his visit in July 1949. He noted that sacred relics of the Buddha’s chief disciples — Sariputta and Maha Moggallana — were repatriated from London and handed over to the Mahabodhi Society of India in Kolkata in January 1949.

According to Ramesh, during Nehru’s subsequent visit to Ladakh, Buddhist leader Kushok Bakula Rinpoche requested that the relics be brought to the region. “A year later in May 1950 this materialised, and the relics were taken around Ladakh for 79 days,” he said, adding that they were later enshrined in Yangon, Colombo and Sanchi.

The Congress has been consistently pressing the Centre to clarify its position on Ladakh’s long-standing demands, including full statehood, safeguards under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, and legal protections for land and jobs.

Shah, who arrived in Ladakh on Thursday, is attending the first-ever international exposition of holy relics of Lord Buddha in India. However, the opposition’s criticism underscores the widening political debate over governance and representation in the Union Territory.

The exchange highlights a broader tension between symbolic outreach and substantive policy commitments, as Ladakh’s residents continue to push for constitutional and administrative safeguards.

With PTI inputs

Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin on Friday expressed strong confidence in his party’s performance in the recent assembly elections, asserting that the efforts of party workers would bear fruit when votes are counted on 4 May.

Addressing a May Day event, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader said the outcome of the polls, held on 23 April, would reflect the extensive groundwork carried out by party cadres.

“We are set to reap the rewards of the hard work put in by our party cadres on the coming fourth,” he said, adding that there was “no deviation whatsoever” from this expectation.

Stalin emphasised that his confidence was not based on exit poll projections but on the party’s organisational strength and campaign efforts. He also hinted that the results would bring “good news” for supporters awaiting the outcome.

Reaffirming his party’s ideological foundations, Stalin said the DMK’s governance model was rooted in principles and would continue to follow the same path.

During his address, he also reflected on the historical significance of May Day in the state. He credited former chief minister C.N. Annadurai with first declaring 1 May a public holiday in Tamil Nadu. He further highlighted the role of late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi in advocating for its recognition at the national level.

According to Stalin, it was at Karunanidhi’s request that then prime minister V.P. Singh extended May Day as a paid public holiday across the country.

The counting of votes on 4 May is expected to determine the political direction of the state, with major parties closely watching the outcome.

With PTI inputs

Mamata Banerjee on Friday rejected exit poll projections predicting a victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the West Bengal Assembly elections, alleging that the surveys were circulated “at the instruction of the BJP” to demoralise Trinamool Congress workers ahead of counting on 4 May.

In a video message shared on social media, the Trinamool Congress chief claimed television channels had aired projections sent directly from the BJP office.

“What was shown on television was circulated from the BJP office at 1.08 pm. Money was paid to ensure it was aired. I have specific information. They are saying forcefully that this has to be done,” Banerjee alleged.

Most exit polls released after the completion of voting predicted a majority for the BJP in the 294-member Assembly, where the halfway mark is 148 seats.

‘We will cross 226 seats’

Projecting confidence, Banerjee asserted that the TMC would comfortably return to power with a decisive mandate.

“We will cross 226 seats in 2026. We might cross even 230 seats. I have complete faith in the massive mandate given by the people,” she said.

She thanked voters for participating in large numbers despite what she described as “heat and alleged intimidation”.

In a strongly worded political message, Banerjee said, “Those who tried to subdue Bengal have been subdued by the ballot,” while also praising TMC workers who, according to her, “fought relentlessly and endured attacks”.

Targets Amit Shah, central forces

The chief minister accused Amit Shah and central forces of acting in favour of the BJP during polling.

She alleged that women, children, journalists and TMC workers were assaulted in several areas and claimed many of her party workers had been deliberately detained to prevent them from functioning as polling agents.

Banerjee specifically referred to areas such as Bhatpara, Naihati, Jagaddal and even her own constituency Bhabanipur, alleging intimidation and late-night searches.

Referring to the reported death of an elderly voter in Udaynarayanpur during polling, Banerjee expressed sympathy for the family.

She said the TMC would stand beside them and alleged that her party workers “faced one-sided violence but did not leave the field”.

Exit polls part of ‘larger conspiracy’

Banerjee claimed the exit poll narrative was designed to weaken the morale of TMC workers and stabilise financial markets before counting.

“They are playing their last game through sections of the media to psychologically weaken our workers and reassure the share market,” she alleged.

She also referred to past elections in 2016 and 2021, suggesting that exit polls had previously failed to accurately predict the final outcome in Bengal.

Directs cadres to guard EVM strong rooms

In one of the sharpest parts of her address, Banerjee instructed party leaders, candidates and workers to remain vigilant around strong rooms storing Electronic Voting Machines.

“They have planned that when EVMs are moved from strong rooms to counting halls, attempts could be made to change the machines. Do not be negligent,” she warned.

She urged party workers to monitor counting centres in shifts through the night.

“Stay awake through the night. In the morning, hand over charge to another team and only then go to sleep. If I can stand guard, you can also stand guard,” Banerjee said.

She also advised candidates not to leave counting tables unattended, even briefly, unless replaced by “trusted people who cannot be bought”.

Calls for restraint

Despite the aggressive tone of her allegations, Banerjee appealed to supporters to remain peaceful.

“Remain calm and disciplined. Have faith in the people of Bengal and have faith in Didi (Banerjee). Wait till the evening of May 4, you will get your answer,” she said.

The West Bengal election has witnessed one of the most intense contests in recent years, with both the BJP and TMC running aggressive statewide campaigns.

The counting of votes on 4 May is expected to decide whether Banerjee secures a fourth consecutive term or whether the BJP succeeds in ending the TMC’s long rule in the state.

The Supreme Court of India on Thursday reserved its verdict on a plea by Congress leader Pawan Khera seeking anticipatory bail in a case filed by Assam Police. The complaint was filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, wife of Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

A bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Atul Chandurkar heard the matter after Gauhati High Court turned down Khera’s anticipatory bail plea, setting the stage for a broader contest over personal liberty, political speech and the limits of police power.

Appearing for Khera, senior advocate and Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi framed the case as one that goes beyond an individual FIR.

Arguing that Khera is “not a hardened criminal”, Singhvi alleged that Khera was being targeted by a “constitutional cowboy”, a pointed reference to the Assam chief minister’s public posturing on the case.

At the heart of the defence was the argument that arrest, in this case, would be punitive rather than investigative.

Singhvi stressed that Khera is a public figure with a fixed address, no criminal antecedents, and no incentive to evade the law. Most of the charges, he noted, are bailable and relate to alleged defamation offences that ordinarily do not require custodial interrogation.

The show of force, he added, was disproportionate: “50–70 Assam police personnel” arriving at Khera’s Delhi residence “as if he is a terrorist”.

He argued that the prosecution bore the imprint of political vendetta, with the threat of arrest amplified through public statements rather than confined to the courtroom.

Opposing the plea, solicitor-general Tushar Mehta, representing the Assam government, told the court that the documents submitted by Khera were “fabricated and forged”, asserting that no such passports had been issued by any competent authority. He contended that custodial interrogation was essential to trace the origin of the documents, identify those who may have aided Khera, and determine whether any foreign links were involved.

Singhvi told the bench that some remarks attributed to Sarma were “unprintable” and claimed the chief minister had publicly suggested that Khera could spend the rest of his life in an Assam jail. Such rhetoric, Singhvi argued, erodes the institutional restraint expected of constitutional office holders, invoking Dr B.R. Ambedkar to underline the gravity of executive overreach in a constitutional democracy.

Invoking the guarantee of personal liberty under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, Singhvi questioned the necessity of arrest at the pre-trial stage. “Even assuming a conviction at the end, what justifies arrest now?” he asked, pressing the court to draw a line between investigation and intimidation.

The state’s case, however, rests on a different footing. In rejecting anticipatory bail, the Gauhati High Court termed Khera a “flight risk” and underscored that the allegations go beyond political sparring, involving charges such as cheating and forgery.

The HC had noted that the remarks made by Khera were directed at a private individual — Sarma’s wife — rather than the chief minister, thereby weakening the defence of political rhetoric. It also held that custodial interrogation was necessary to establish the source and authenticity of documents cited by Khera.

This was second time that Khera appeared in the apex court in a month. On 17 April, the bench had refused to vacate a stay on transit bail granted by the Telangana High Court, shielding him from immediate arrest.

The legal battle, as per experts, sits at the intersection of two competing claims: the state’s assertion of investigative necessity and the defence’s warning against the criminalisation of political speech.

The Congress on Thursday intensified its attack on the Centre over the proposed caste census, accusing the government of failing to provide any roadmap for the exercise and alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is deliberately delaying its implementation.

Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said it has been a full year since the government announced that caste enumeration would be included in the upcoming census, yet no concrete details have emerged.

“A full year has passed. The details of how this caste enumeration will be done are still awaited. There has been no dialogue with Opposition parties, state governments, or even experts,” Ramesh said in a post on X.

Highlighting what he termed a “dramatic U-turn” by the prime minister, Ramesh outlined a timeline of the Centre’s shifting stance. He noted that on 21 July 2021, the government had informed Parliament that it had taken a policy decision not to enumerate caste-wise population. This position was reiterated in a 21 September 2021 affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, which argued that court-mandated caste enumeration would interfere with government policy.

Ramesh also pointed to political exchanges over the years, including a letter by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on 16 April 2023, urging the inclusion of caste data in the Census, and the Prime Minister’s 28 April 2024 remarks in a television interview, where he criticised the demand as reflective of “urban naxal” thinking.

“The prime minister owes the Congress leadership an apology for that accusation. More importantly, he owes the people of India an explanation for this reversal,” Ramesh said.

He further claimed that Kharge’s follow-up letter dated 5 May 2025, seeking dialogue on the issue, went unacknowledged. “The concerns raised remain valid even today,” he added, accusing the government of sidelining the issue despite its importance.

Quoting Kharge, Ramesh reiterated the Congress position that a caste census is essential for ensuring social and economic justice. “Conducting such an exercise, which gives rights to the backward, oppressed and marginalised sections, cannot be considered divisive,” Kharge had said in his letter.

The Congress has repeatedly alleged that the government is attempting to push the caste census into “cold storage”, a charge that has gained traction following the recently concluded special session of Parliament.

As the political debate sharpens, the demand for a comprehensive caste census continues to remain a key flashpoint between the ruling government and the Opposition.

With PTI inputs

West Bengal has recorded a historic 92.47 per cent voter turnout in its two-phase assembly elections, the highest ever in the state since Independence, the Election Commission announced on Wednesday.

The turnout figures reflect strong voter participation across both phases. Phase I, held on 23 April, saw a polling percentage of 93.19 per cent, while Phase II recorded 91.66 per cent by 7:45 pm. The combined turnout stood at 92.47 per cent across the two phases.

With a voter base of 6.81 crore, the state has now surpassed its previous best of 84.72 per cent recorded in the 2011 assembly elections.

Women voters outpaced men in participation, with 92.28 per cent of women casting their votes compared to 91.07 per cent of men in Phase II. Similar trends were observed in Phase I as well.

Calling the milestone a reflection of democratic strength, chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said, “For the highest ever percentage of polling in West Bengal since Independence, the EC salutes each voter of the state.”

West Bengal’s record turnout comes amid a broader surge in voter participation across several states. Tripura continues to hold the national record with 93.61 per cent turnout in its 2013 Assembly elections.

Other states also saw notable participation this cycle, including Assam (85.38 per cent) and Puducherry (89.83 per cent), both surpassing their previous highs. Tamil Nadu, which went to polls on April 23 for all 234 seats, recorded a turnout of 78.29 per cent in 2011 as its highest earlier benchmark.

The counting of votes for West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry will be conducted on 4 May.

With PTI inputs

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday called on voters in West Bengal to turn out in large numbers and “stand up against forces” undermining democratic rights, as polling for the second phase of Assembly elections got underway.

In a message on X, Kharge appealed for fearless participation in the electoral process.

“I urge every voter to step out in large numbers and exercise your democratic right without fear or hesitation,” he said. “Do not be influenced or intimidated by anyone. Vote for progressive values, development and harmony.”

He framed the election as a defining moment for the state.

“This is the time to stand up against forces that seek to undermine your rights and give them a befitting reply,” Kharge added, making a special appeal to young and first-time voters. “Your voice matters. Ensure that the spirit of true democracy persists in West Bengal.”

Polling began at 7 am across 142 constituencies spanning six districts, including Kolkata, in the second and final phase of the elections. According to early trends, voter turnout stood at 18.39 per cent till 9 am.

Despite largely peaceful voting, minor tensions were reported in some pockets. In the high-profile Bhabanipur constituency, chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s brother Kartik Banerjee was cautioned by central forces for gathering with more people than permitted near a polling station.

The Election Commission of India expressed optimism over participation, highlighting strong early turnout — especially among women and young voters.

“Early morning queues of our women voters — enthusiasm at its peak in the festival of democracy,” the ECI said, sharing visuals from North 24-Parganas.

While polling continues under tight security, the outcome of this phase — covering key districts of south Bengal — is expected to play a decisive role in shaping the electoral verdict.

With IANS inputs