Assembly Election 2021 Updates: Days after testing COVID-19 positive, DMK's Kanimozhi dons PPE suit to cast vote in Chennai

West Bengal Elections 2021 LATEST Updates

Five arrested in connection to assault on TMC’s Sujata Mondal

Police arrested five people — three members of the TMC and two of the BJP — for their alleged involvement in assaulting TMC’s Sujata Mondal, candidate from Arasmbagh, earlier on Tuesday, a police officer said. Police also said they had launched a search for those who assaulted Papiya Adhikary, BJP candidate from Uluberia (Dakshin) assembly seat, when she visited Uluberia hospital to call on an injured party candidate.

The attacks were part of a series of clashes which were reported from several parts of Bengal, where polling is underway in the third phase of Assembly elections.

Tamil Nadu Elections 2021 LATEST Updates

Kanimozhi casts vote in Chennai

DMK MP Kanimozhi cast her vote on Tuesday evening in Chennai, as the single-phased Assembly poll was held across all constituencies in Tamil Nadu. Kanimozhi, who had cancelled her campaign events after testing positive for COVID-19 last week, turned out to vote in PPE gear, The Hindu reported.

Assembly Elections 2021 LATEST Updates

Assam voter turnout crosses 80% mark

According to provisional voter turnout data available at EC’s turnout app, Assam recorded 82.15 percent polling till 7 pm, West Bengal recorded 77.68 percent polling, Kerala polled 69.95 percent votes, Tamil Nadu had 65.11 percent voters exercise their right and Puducherry recorded 78.03 percent turnout. 

In Kerala Lok Sabh by-election 67.96 percent polling was recorded while in Tamil Nadu bypolls 62.41 percent of registered voters cast their votes.

Assam Assembly Elections 2021 LATEST Updates

Assam third phase polling largely peaceful

The third and last phase of the state election in Assam which is underway amidst tight security in 40 constituencies spread across 12 districts on Tuesday is largely peaceful despite sporadic incidents of violence and disturbances in some areas, officials said. 

There were reports of a clash between two groups of people over some issues at a polling station at Dighaltari lower primary school at Golakganj. Police  resorted to lathicharge and firing in the air to control the situation but none was injured, an official said. The polling at the booth was stopped for a brief period and resumed soon, he said.

Assembly Elections 2021 LATEST Updates

Assam records around 79% turnout; Kerala nears 70%

Till 6 pm Assam recorded 78.94 percent voter turnout, the highest among all four states under polls and the Union Territory of Puducherry. West Bengal recorded 77.68 percent turnout. Kerala was at 69.93 percent, Tamil Nadu 64.92 percent, and Puducherry recorded 77.90 percent turnout, as per the voter turnout app by Election Commission. 

In Kerala Lok Sabha by-election, 67.96 percent turnout was recorded while in Tamil Nadu bypolls, 57.85 percent voters exercised their franchise.

Assam Elections 2021 LATEST Updates

Assam deputy Speaker quizzed, 5 policemen suspended for firing on 1 April

Assam Assembly Deputy Speaker Aminul Haque Laskar has been quizzed twice and five police personnel attached to him have been suspended after they
opened fire on public during second phase of polling on 1 April, PTI reported on Tuesday. At least three people were injured in the firing by Laskar’s bodyguards on 1 April after clashes broke out between supporters of BJP and AIUDF inside the polling station at 463 Madhya Dhanehori LP School of Sonai constituency.

Police sources said Laskar was interrogated twice for several hours during the last 48 hours and his statements have been recorded in front of a magistrate. Sitting MLA Laskar is having a direct fight with Karim Uddin Barbhuiya of the AIUDF on Sonai seat.

Kerala Elections 2021 LATEST Updates

Kalamassery NDA candidate protests at polling booth, says report

NDA candidate from the Kalamassery constituency staged a sit-in protest at polling booth number 77 on Tuesday, alleging that a person had cast their vote “in another name”,  Mathrubhumi reported .

“Candidate PS Jayaraj alleged that this was bogus voting and that the polling officers refused to file a complaint with the police. Polling was interrupted for over 30 minutes,” the report added

Assembly Elections 2021 LATEST Updates

Polling slow in Tamil Nadu, Assam records vigorous turnout

Till 5 pm, Assam had recorded 68.31 percent polling, Kerala had recorded 60.5 percent turnout, Puducherry was at 66.91 percent, Tamil Nadu 55.15 percent, West Bengal was at 68.4 percent.

The turnout for Kerala Lok Sabha by election was 59.44 percent and Tamil Nadu Lok Sabha by-election recorded 51.16 percent.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Sporadic violence reported, candidates attacked in third phase of Bengal polls

Sporadic violence was reported and some candidates were attacked during the third phase of West Bengal assembly elections on Tuesday. 

Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee alleged “blatant misuse” of central forces to “influence voters”. “The blatant misuse of Central forces continues unabated. Despite us repeatedly raising this issue, @ECISVEEP continues to be a mute spectator, while men in uniform are being misused at several places to openly intimidate TMC voters & influence many to vote in favour of one party,” she tweeted. 

The TMC claimed that BJP “goons” didn’t allow the party’s polling agents inside the polling stations. The BJP, on the other hand, accused TMC candidate Sujata Mondal of entering a Arambagh polling station with TMC “goons” and creating unrest by threatening people against going to the polling stations to cast their votes.

Tamil Nadu Elections 2021 LATEST Updates

AIADMK lodges complaint against Udhayanidhi Stalin for MCC violation 

The ruling AIADMK has accused Udhayanidhi Stalin of violating the code of conduct by openly sporting his party’s logo at the poll booth. 

Udhayanidhi is the son of DMK chief MK Stalin and is in the electoral fray for the first time. 

Tamil Nadu: AIADMK's Babu Murugavel filed a complaint against DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin for wearing a shirt with party logo while casting his vote earlier today.

(File photo) pic.twitter.com/QJ5Lxl2i2j

— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021

Kerala Assembly Elections 2021 LATEST Updates

BJP will get 10 seats in Kerala, says Nalin Kumar Kateel

The BJP, which opened its account in the Kerala assembly in 2016 with one seat, will get at least 10 seats in the House this time, party’s Karnataka president Nalin Kumar Kateel MP said on Tuesday. Addressing reporters at Puttur, Kateel expressed confidence that the party will score victories in Manjeshwar and Kasaragod assembly segments.

The BJP will also win eight other seats in other districts including its sitting seat of Nemom in Thiruvananthapuram district, he said.

Assembly Elections 2021 LATEST Updates

Assam, Puducherry report high turnout; polling picks up in Tamil Nadu as 54% voters cast vote till 4 pm

At 4 pm, Assam records voter turnout of 68.31 percent, Puducherry of 66.59 percent, Tamil Nadu of 54.05 percent, Kerala of 58.66 percent,  and West Bengal of 68.04 percent.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

TMC tweets video of ‘BJP workers attacking Sujata Mondal’

The ruling All India Trinamool Congress tweeted a video purportedly showing BJP workers attacking Sujata Mondal. Mondal had accused the opposition BJP of creating chaos and threatening Trinamool supporters in Arambagh amid the voting. 

Petrifying visuals of @BJP4India goons attacking TMC candidate #SujataMandal, openly abusing her & threatening her with rods & sickle. If they have the guts to do this to a female candidate, imagine what they can do to your daughters. This is their ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ pic.twitter.com/uBh4oTyNeR

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) April 6, 2021

Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Sabarimala triggers heated debate on election day in Kerala

The Sabarimala women’s entry issue, one of the major poll planks of the opposition UDF and the NDA against the ruling LDF during the campaign, took centre stage of debate even on Tuesday, the day of the assembly election, in Kerala as major leaders locked horns over the matter.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Lord Ayyappa, the presiding deity at the Sabarimala, and all other gods are with the LDF government which has worked for the welfare of people. 

Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala in his reaction said the Left government would surely face the wrath of the Lord Ayyyppa and his devotees in this election. Lashing out at Vijayan, BJP state president K Surendran said what the CM had done in Sabarimala three years ago was the ‘act of demon’ and people of the state would never forget his “wicked deeds”.

Assembly Elections 2021 LATEST Updates

Polling slow in Tamil Nadu, Assam records vigorous turnout

Here is what the polling percentage looks like at 3 pm for all states and UT under poll as per the voter turnout app by the Election Commission.

• Assam  – 54.08 percent
• Kerala – 48.45 percent
• Puducherry – 54.27 percent
• Tamil Nadu – 42.14 percent
• West Bengal – 54.43 percent

Assam Elections 2021 LATEST Updates

90 voters and 181 votes polled in Assam booth

Six polling officials have been suspended in Assam after the Election Commission found that 181 votes had been cast at a booth in Dima Hasao district that had only 90 registered voters, reports said. The booth is in the Haflong constituency that voted in the second phase on 1 April.

West Bengal Elections 2021 LATEST Updates

Didi asking Muslims to back her reflects minority votes slipping away: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday slammed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for seeking en bloc voting by Muslims for the TMC and said had his partymade a similar appeal to Hindus, it would have been criticised and censured. 

Asserting that Banerjee has problems with people sporting a Tilak and wearing saffron, Modi said the TMC supremo’s appeal to the Muslims reflects that her “minority votes are slipping out of her hands.”

Tamil Nadu Elections 2021 LATEST Updates

Kamal Haasan accuses BJP of distributing cash, lodges complaint

Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan on Tuesday reportedly lodged a complaint with the RO regarding parties distributing tokens which can be exchanged for money post elections, to the people of Kempatti colony, reports said.

Haasan is pitted against BJP candidate Vanathi Srinivasan and the sitting Congress MLA Mayura Jayakumar

West Bengal Elections 2021 LATEST Updates

Arambagh TMC candidate attacked with bricks, Mamata accuses BJP

Clashes broke out between TMC and BJP workers in Arambagh of West Bengal on Tuesday as the area voted in the third phase of assembly elections. TMC candidate Sujata Mondal was allegedly attacked by mask-clad men who threw bricks at her, India Today reporteed. 

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has, however, blamed the BJP for the attack and claimed the party’s cadre chased the woman candidate and hit her on the head, PTI reported.

Assam Elections 2021 LATEST Updates

Polling centres decorated with art installations, handicraft items

Many polling centres in Assam have been decorated with recyclable items, having art installations made with bottles, plastic wrappers, etc.

Some voting centres displayed ethnic fabrics and handicraft items, besides mannequins wearing tribal attires at the selfie zones.

PTI

Tamil Nadu Elections 2021 LATEST Updates

Senior citizen dies after casting vote at Thanjavur

A senior citizen died after exercising his franchise in Papanasam constituency in Thanjavur district, The Hindu reported.

According to the District Election Officer and Collector M Govinda Rao, the deceased, identified as 62-year-old Arjunan of Ayyampettai had cast his vote at a school near his house. Subsequently Arjunan, with a history of low blood pressure, suddenly lost consciousness. He was rushed to the government taluk hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

West Bengal Elections 2021 LATEST Updates

BJP activists forcibly occupying polling booths, alleges Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday claimed BJP activists were forcibly occupying polling booths and attacking TMC members, including party candidates, and asserted that she would not get bogged down by such “intimidatory tactics”.

Addressing a public meeting here in Alipurduar district, the TMC supremo said her party’’s nominee in Arambagh, Sujata Mondal, was chased and hit on head near a polling booth by saffron party workers.

“They have inflicted serious injury on our Scheduled Caste candidate Sujata, when she visited a booth. They also hit another candidate in Khanakul. In Canning East, security forces prevented our nominee Shaukat Mollah from entering a booth. There had been numerous such instances of attack on our candidates, party workers across the state,” Banerjee said.

PTI

Puducherry Elections 2021 LATEST Updates

Polling at booth in Nellithope halted

Polling at a booth in the Nellithope constituency was stopped after a voter was turned away by Election Commission officials stating that his vote was already cast, according to The Times of India.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 voting percentage

BJP, TMC workers clash in Arambagh

Clashes erupted between TMC and BJP supporters in Hooghly’s Arambag in West Bengal, as voting in Assembly elections is underway, News18 reported.

Assembly Election 2021 voting percentage

TN records 22.92% turnout, Assam 33.18% till 12 pm

The voter turnouts in Assembly Elections 2021 till 12 pm in the four states and one Union Territory are as follows: 

Assam 33.18%
Kerala 31.62%
Puducherry 35.71% 
Tamil Nadu 22.92%
West Bengal 34.71%

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 voting percentage

26% candidates in phase 3 have criminal records

As many as 53 candidates in the third phase have declared criminal cases against themselves. This means 26 percent of candidates have been charged with criminal cases.

Of these, 19 are from Bharatiya Janata Party, 11 from Trinamool Congress, eight from Communist Party of India (Marxist), three from Congress and two from Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist).

Out of 53 candidates with criminal cases, 43 have declared serious criminal cases against themselves. There are nine candidates who have declared cases related to crime against women.

Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

26.29% turnout recorded till 11 am

Tamil Nadu recorded 26.29 percent voting till 11 am on Tuesday, Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo said. 

Namakkal district recorded the highest of 28.33 percent and Tirunelveli the lowest at 20.98 percent, the CEO told reporters. Chennai’s polling percentage till 11 am stood at 23.67 percent, he said, adding there have been “no untoward incidents so far” from across the state.

PTI

Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Actor Vijay rides bicycle to polling booth

Actor Vijay rode a bicycle to the polling station at Vels International Pre School, Neelankarai in Chennai.

Chennai district has 17 Assembly constituencies.

Tamil Nadu: Actor Vijay rode a bicycle to the polling station at Vels International Pre School, Neelankarai in Chennai pic.twitter.com/vKcL3mwloE

— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021

Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Polling smoothly underway, says Chief Electoral Officer

Polling is underway in Tamil Nadu with top leaders including AIADMK’s O Panneerselvam, DMK chief M K Stalin and celebrities like Rajinikanth exercising their franchise early on Tuesday.

Chief Electoral Officer, Satyabrata Sahoo after voting at a polling station here told reporters that polling exercise was ‘smooth’ across Tamil Nadu barring ‘one or two’ places that witnessed issues related to the Electronic Voting Machines and these were attended immediately.

PTI

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

TMC alleges attack by Indian Secular Front members in Hooghly

The TMC has alleged that Indian Secular Front goons have thrashed its party members in Hooghly district, West Bengal, News18 reported .

Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Kerala records 16.07% turnout in first two hours

Kerala recorded 16.07 percent voting in the first two hours across 140 constituencies during the Assembly election on Tuesday. Serpentine queues were seen at several booths across the state as polling began at 7 am, PTI reported.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

EVMs, VVPATs found at TMC leader’s home, poll official suspended

Four EVMs and a similar number of VVPATs were found at the house of a Trinamool Congress leader in West Bengal’’s Howrah district, following which a poll official was suspended, a senior officer said on Tuesday.

The incident happened in Tulsiberia village in the Uluberia Uttar assembly segment, he said.

Villagers spotted a vehicle with an Election Commission sticker outside the house of the TMC leader in the early hours, after which they started protesting, he added.

Then, it was found that the officer of sector 17 Tapan Sarkar was visiting the TMC leader’s house with the EVMs, the official said.

The EVMs and VVPATs were seized and the officer suspended, he said.

PTI

Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Four incidents of EVM malfunction in Kerala so far

There have been four reported incidents of EVM malfunction in Kerala so far. The incidents have been reported from Kannur, Thrissur, Trivandrum and Idukki, reported News18. The problem has been resolved in Kannur.

Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

EVM malfunctions reported at three booths

EVM malfunctions were reported in three booths of Assam in Hajo and Golokganj. The voting has been delayed due to the issue, News18 reported.

Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

‘India is counting on you’, Rahul Gandhi tells voters

With polling taking place for Assembly elections in four states and a Union Territory, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday urged people to cast their vote, saying “India is counting on you”.

Do cast your votes today- India is counting on you. #Elections2021

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 6, 2021

Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Narendra Modi urges people to vote in record numbers

Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged people to vote in large numbers in the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

“Elections are taking place in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. I request the people in these places to vote in record numbers, particularly the young voters,” the prime minister tweeted.

Elections are taking place in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. I request the people in these places to vote in record numbers, particularly the young voters.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 6, 2021

Puducherry Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

V Narayanasamy casts vote 

Former Puducherry CM and Congress leader V.Narayanasamy casts his vote in Puducherry assembly elections pic.twitter.com/59Zm20UEmf

— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021

‘Congress-led alliance set for landslide victory’, says P Chidambaram

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram cast vote in polling booth Chittal Achi Memorial High School in Kandanur, Sivaganga district. After casting his vote, he said that the “secular progressive alliance” is set for a landslide victory as the people of Tamil Nadu want change.

The DMK has allotted 25 seats to ally Congress in Tamil Nadu.

#TamilNaduElections | Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram casts vote in polling booth Chittal Achi Memorial High School in Kandanur, Sivaganga district

"Our secular progressive alliance is all set for a landslide victory as people of Tamil Nadu want a change," he says pic.twitter.com/TY4Ii4qZeI

— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2021

Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Pinarayi Vijayan, Ramesh Chennithala among key candidates

Kerala had witnessed a fierce campaign in the run up to the polls by the ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), Opposition Congress led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the BJP led NDA.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, seven of his cabinet colleagues, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy are among the 957 candidates in fray in the state.

PTI

Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

BJP-AGP alliance faces Mahajot alliance

The newly floated AJP is contesting in 22 seats while there are 126 Independent candidates in the fray in the final phase of the election in which the BJP-led coalition is seeking to return to power for the second term in a row.

The fate of 20 sitting MLAs — eight from the Congress, five from the BJP, three each from the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and the BPF and one from the AGP — will be decided in the final phase.

The BJP is contesting in 20 seats while its allies  — the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) in nine and the United Peoples Party Liberal  — in eight, including a friendly contest between the saffron party and the UPPL in Bijni.

The Congress has fielded 24 candidates and its partners —  the AIUDF in 12, the Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF) in eight and CPM in one. The Congress and the AIUDF are engaged in friendly contests in the five constituencies of Jaleswar, Baghbar, Sarukhetri, Chenga and Barkhetri.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Voting underway at 31 seats in Bengal

Polling began at 7 am on Tuesday for 31 seats in the third phase of the West Bengal assembly elections amid tight security, officials said.

Voting is underway with strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols in 16 seats in South 24 Parganas district (part II), seven in Howrah (part I) and eight in Hooghly (part I), they said.

Long queues were seen outside polling stations, where voting will continue till 6.30 pm.

PTI

Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Rajinikanth among early voters in Chennai

People in Tamil Nadu started lining up early in the morning eagerly to cast their votes. Actors Rajinikanth and Ajith Kumar were among the early voters in Chennai..

Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

E Sreedharan casts vote

‘‘Metroman’’ E Sreedharan, who is the BJP-NDA candidate from Palakkad constituency was among the early voters in Kerala.

“I have cast my vote, have good expectations”, he told reporters after excercising his franchise at a polling booth in Ponnani.

PTI

Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Voting begins in four states, one UT

Voting began for the Assembly elections at 7 am.

Kerala Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

2.74 eligible voters in Kerala

In Kerala, 2.74 crore voters exercising their franchise will decide the fate of 957 candidates, including high-profile leaders and Independents

Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

3,998 candidates in fray

In Tamil Nadu, over 6.28 crore eligible voters will choose between the 3,998 candidates who are contesting in the polls that will decide whether it will a hat-trick of terms for the AIADMK or the return of DMK after a decade in opposition

Assam Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Forty seats up for grabs in final phase

Voting for the third and last phase of the fiercely contested election to the legislative Assembly in Assam will be held on Tuesday. Forty seats are up for grabs in the final round of the fight to win as many of the 126 seats.

The final phase also takes place in Lower Assam region, where Bengali Muslims dominate the voters’ list.

West Bengal Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Thirty-one seats across three districts to vote today 

The constituencies in West Bengal that will vote on Tuesday will be spread over three districts, Hooghly, Howrah and South 24 Parganas, and will see 205 candidates in the fray.

The Trinamool Congress and BJP have fielded candidates in all 31 seats. Meanwhile, the Samyukt Morcha parties CPM, All India Forward Bloc, Revolutionary Socialist Party and Congress have fielded candidates for 13, two, one and seven candidates respectively.

Assembly Election 2021 LATEST Updates

Voting in four states, one UT to begin at 7 am 

Four states and a Union territory are set to vote in Assembly elections scheduled to be held today (Tuesday, 6 April). While it is the single phase of polls in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, it is the third and last phase of election in Assam and the third of eight phases in West Bengal.