On April 22, 2026, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath spoke at a rally in Kolkata’s Jorasanko constituency, supporting his party’s nominee for the upcoming West Bengal state elections. He compared administrative conditions in the two states, noting that disorder in West Bengal resembles the situation in Uttar Pradesh prior to 2017. He highlighted that Uttar Pradesh now experiences stability and progress, describing it as an era of ideal governance.
Adityanath also remarked that West Bengal’s cultural essence connects more closely with local traditions like the Kali temple rather than external symbols.
In Tamil Nadu, 4,023 contenders are competing across 234 constituencies, with over 57 million voters set to cast ballots on April 23, 2026.
State Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik inspected the operations center to confirm preparations for efficient voting procedures.
The Election Commission aims for full voter participation and has run awareness initiatives to achieve this. Efforts to transport electronic voting machines to polling sites are underway. More than 140,000 police officers are assigned to maintain security, with extra forces at high-risk locations. Campaigners from outside the area have been directed to leave.
Additionally, the Election Commission launched the second stage of its 2026 International Election Visitors’ Programme for Tamil Nadu’s assembly polls. Delegates will tour distribution hubs, control centers, and media oversight facilities, and observe voting on election day morning.
In West Bengal, the Election Commission released lists on its site detailing voters cleared or excluded by tribunals for the initial voting phase, according to an official on April 22, 2026.
