Assembly Election 2026 Highlights: Election Commission suspends West Bengal officials over electoral roll irregularities

Tensions flared on Sunday in Sakher Bazar, Behala, as supporters of the BJP and Trinamool Congress (TMC) clashed during local political events.

According to BJP sources, the Trinamool allegedly obstructed their meeting by playing loud music and reportedly planted party flags at the BJP’s venue. In response, BJP supporters are said to have vandalized an event organized by TMC leader Sudip Polley.

Trinamool supporters, in retaliation, allegedly set fire to and vandalized the BJP’s meeting stage. The chaotic situation prompted authorities to intervene, though no casualties have been reported.

Police have arrived at the site to maintain order, and investigations into the incident are underway.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken strict action in West Bengal, placing Samitra Pratim Prodhan, AERO and BDO of Baurhat-II, under suspension with immediate effect.

The officials have also been removed from any duties related to electoral roll revision, the commission said, citing the need to maintain the integrity of the ongoing electoral process.

No further details have been provided regarding the nature of the irregularities or the expected duration of the suspension.

Supporters of West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and opposition BJP clashed on Sunday evening at Sakherbazar on the southwestern outskirts of Kolkata, officials said. The altercation reportedly began over the use of microphones by a local club, allegedly at high volume.

During the clash, a makeshift stage from which former Tripura chief minister Biplab Deb addressed a public meeting earlier in the day was allegedly set on fire. A fire tender was deployed to bring the blaze under control. No casualties have been reported so far.

TMC MLA Ratna Chatterjee, representing the Behala Purba constituency, alleged that BJP supporters confronted members of the club during a badminton tournament. “The Trinamool Congress will make its stance harder, the more they resort to such tactics,” she said after visiting the site.

Local BJP leaders countered that some individuals set fire to the stage used for Deb’s rally, part of the saffron party’s ‘Parivartan Sankalp Yatra’ ahead of the Bengal assembly polls.

Police are on the scene, and tensions remain high in the area. Authorities have urged residents to maintain calm as investigations continue.

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president and actor Vijay on Sunday struck a combative political tone in Tamil Nadu, declaring that neither the ruling DMK nor the opposition AIADMK deserved to govern the state and asserting that his party was ready to take them on without alliances.

Addressing a rally in Mahabalipuram, Vijay described the upcoming Assembly elections as a decisive moment in the state’s political future. “We are at a very important juncture in our political journey,” he told party workers. “What is going to happen now is not just an election; it is a democratic battle. You are the commanders who are going to lead this democratic battle.” Read more

Addressing a public gathering in poll-bound Tamil Nadu, actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president said, "The AIADMK has directly surrendered to the BJP, and the DMK has indirectly surrendered to the BJP. We do not bow down to any pressure. Does this face look like it would succumb to pressure?"

The statement comes as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) continues its probe into the stampede that claimed 41 lives and left over 60 people injured during a rally organised by TVK in Karur last year.

Speaking on former Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad's claim that there is no "internal democracy" within the 'grand old party', BJP leader CR Kesavan said, "Shakeel Ahmed's pointed remarks clearly expose the feudal mindset of Rahul Gandhi and also unmask the insecurity of the Congress... For the Congress leadership, our nation has never come first, and our national interest has never been a priority... He has also commented on how cowardly and immature Rahul Gandhi is."

He added, "Rahul Gandhi is a frustrated and failed political liability who cannot accept, tolerate, or come to terms with competent and capable leaders. This is the reason why under Rahul Gandhi, the Congress party is a completely divided house, which is now collapsing, crumbling, and imploding."

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Sunday paid their tributes on the occasion of Tamil Language Martyrs’ Memorial Day.

The CM also sharpened his pitch against the BJP-led Centre's alleged efforts to impose Hindi on southern states. In a post originally in Tamil, he wrote, "Language Martyrs' Day of Glorious Tribute: Neither then, nor now, nor ever will Hindi have a place here! A state that loves its language as its very lifeblood, it united and fought against Hindi imposition. Every time it was imposed, it resisted with the same valor. It protected the rights and identity of the diverse language-based nations across the Indian subcontinent. I pay my grateful respects to those martyrs who gave their precious lives for Tamil. May no more lives be lost in the language struggle henceforth; may our Tamil consciousness never die! We will resist Hindi imposition forever! #LanguageMartyrsDay #StopHindiImposition".

Extending greetings on the ocassion of National Voters Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged citizens to honour the spirit of the Constitution by always participating in democratic processes. In a post on X, he wrote, "Greetings on #NationalVotersDay. This day is about further deepening our faith in the democratic values of our nation. My compliments to all those associated with the Election Commission of India for their efforts to strengthen our democratic processes. Being a voter is not just a constitutional privilege, but an important duty that gives every citizen a voice in shaping India’s future. Let us honour the spirit of our democracy by always taking part in democratic processes, thereby strengthening the foundations of a Viksit Bharat."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday extended his greetings to the country on the occasion of National Voters Day, reflecting on the universal franchise granted by the country's Constitution. Posting on X, he wrote, "Warm greetings to all our citizens on 'National Voters Day'. This day reminds us that our constitution has given every voter equal power, and the right vote can show our nation the right direction. It is our moral responsibility to safeguard our voting system and ensure that no external factor can pollute it. May on this day we recommit ourselves to the pledge to align the power of our votes to build a developed and powerful India."

Criticising Karnataka Governor  Thaawarchand Gehlot over his recent face-off with the Congress-led state government, state minister NS Boseraju on Saturday said, "The Governor is acting like a puppet of the Centre and is showing disobedience in the opposition states. He has shown great disrespect to the Constitution and the Kannadigas."

A wider pattern of tussles between governors and governments of southern states, namely Karnataka, and poll-bound Tamil Nadu and Kerala, has emerged over the past several days. 

The latest point of contention between the BJP and its rivals has heated up the political tug-of-war between the BJP and its rivals ahead of the Assembly elections due in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry later this year.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the recent face-offs between Governors and non-BJP-ruled state governments. On Saturday, he accused the BJP-led Centre of harassing state governments led by its rival parties or coalitions. He urged people to vote against the BJP in all upcoming Assembly elections across the country.

"The central government, through the PM office, Home Minister office, directly gives instructions to the Governor not to read the speeches prepared by the Siddaramaiah or Congress government (during joint session of the state legislature). This is not the fate only in Karnataka, the same thing happened in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, wherever the Congress or non BJP governments are in power, the Governors are creating trouble," the Congress chief was quoted as saying by news agency PTI during a public gathering.

Kharge further said, "To oust the BJP from power, in all the upcoming elections, whether small or big, vote against the BJP, and show your strength, only then the people, the poor, middle class, those in small occupations can survive, if not, Hitler, Mussolini, Saddam Hussain like rule will come in this country. It has come."