A major political upheaval has unfolded after Raghav Chadha quit the Aam Aadmi Party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party along with several MPs. The move triggered a sharp reaction from Arvind Kejriwal, who accused the BJP of “betraying Punjabis” and attempting to weaken AAP’s stronghold in Punjab. The defection is seen as one of the biggest setbacks for AAP, exposing internal rifts and ideological differences. BJP, however, dismissed allegations of political manipulation. The development signals shifting alliances and intensifying rivalry ahead of upcoming elections, raising concerns over AAP’s stability and its influence in Punjab politics. 

Raghav Chadha said he will leave the Aam Aadmi Party and join the Bharatiya Janata Party. Speaking at a press conference, Chadha said that seven other Rajya Sabha MPs will also move with him. Among them is Harbhajan Singh. Chadha called the move a “new political step” and said it was taken after careful thought. The shift is seen as a major blow to AAP in Parliament. The party has not yet given an official response. The development may change the numbers in the Rajya Sabha and affect future debates and voting. (PC: X)

Raghav Chadha on Friday said he and two other Rajya Sabha MPs have quit the Aam Aadmi Party and will join the Bharatiya Janata Party. Speaking at a press conference with Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, Chadha said, “We… merge ourselves with the BJP.” He claimed more MPs, including Harbhajan Singh and Swati Maliwal, will also join. If confirmed, the move could bypass anti-defection rules. The development comes as AAP prepares for key elections in Punjab, where it is currently in power.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she will shift focus to Delhi after the state elections. Speaking at a rally in Kolkata, she said she aims to unite opposition parties to “dismantle” the BJP at the Centre. “I will take over Delhi once I have secured victory in Bengal,” she said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah dismissed the remark. “There is nothing left here. How will she come to Delhi?” he said. The comments come as voting continues in West Bengal, which recorded high turnout in the first phase. (PC: NDTV)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday attacked the Trinamool Congress during a rally in Dum Dum. He said those involved in alleged violence “will have no place to hide” after May 4. He linked the record voter turnout to what he called the end of “jungle raj” in West Bengal. “The files will be opened — this is Modi’s guarantee,” he said. Modi said the high turnout shows public support for change. The first phase of polling recorded around 92.8% turnout across 152 seats. (PC: India Today)

West Bengal recorded a historic voter turnout of over 91–92% in Phase 1 of the 2026 Assembly elections, the highest since Independence, reflecting strong public participation. The surge comes after the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which removed lakhs of names and intensified debates around citizenship and voter eligibility. Despite concerns that the revision might suppress voting, the high turnout suggests strong engagement and possibly a “cleaner” voter list. Political parties interpret the surge differently, linking it to anti-incumbency or support bases, while experts say its real impact will be clear only after results. (PC: India Today)

India’s election landscape witnessed unprecedented participation as West Bengal and Tamil Nadu recorded their highest voter turnout since Independence. According to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Bengal’s Phase 1 polling reached over 91%, while Tamil Nadu saw nearly 85% turnout in its single-phase election. The polls covered 152 constituencies in Bengal and all 234 seats in Tamil Nadu. Despite the strong voter enthusiasm, sporadic violence was reported in parts of Bengal, including clashes involving political workers in Murshidabad and Dakshin Dinajpur. Overall, authorities described the polling process as largely peaceful, highlighting the scale of democratic participation across both states. (PC: X)

The first phase of Assembly elections in West Bengal witnessed sporadic violence despite largely peaceful early hours. A BJP candidate was chased by alleged Trinamool Congress workers in South Dinajpur, highlighting rising tensions during polling. Clashes were also reported in Murshidabad involving political workers, while earlier incidents of crude bomb hurling had already raised security concerns. The high-stakes election saw heavy deployment of forces, but multiple disruptions, intimidation allegations, and confrontations underscored the volatile nature of Bengal politics, reinforcing the view that elections in the state remain intensely competitive and challenging. 

Voting for the first phase of the 2026 Assembly elections began on April 23 across 152 constituencies in West Bengal, while all 234 seats in Tamil Nadu went to polls in a single phase. The elections are witnessing intense competition, with Bengal seeing a direct contest between the Trinamool Congress and BJP, and Tamil Nadu experiencing a triangular fight among major alliances. Around 3.6 crore voters in Bengal and over 5.6 crore in Tamil Nadu are eligible to vote. Polling began at 7 am amid tight security, with reports of sporadic clashes in Bengal. (PC: India Today)

Phase 1 of the West Bengal Assembly elections recorded 89.93% voter turnout till 5 pm, according to the Election Commission of India. Voting took place in 152 constituencies. The day saw reports of violence in parts of the state. In Murshidabad, a crude bomb was thrown, followed by clashes between workers of Trinamool Congress and All India United Democratic Front led by Humayun Kabir. A BJP candidate from South Dinajpur alleged he was assaulted while going to a polling booth. There were also complaints of EVM glitches in some areas during the voting process. (PC: X)