West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday criticised the Election Commission of India after several senior officials in the state were removed ahead of the assembly elections. “Anti-Women, Anti-Bengali”: Mamata Banerjee Attacks Election Commission Over Removal of Top Bengal Officers The reshuffle included Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty. The poll body appointed IAS officer Dushyant Nariala as her replacement. Banerjee alleged the move was done at the request of the Bharatiya Janata Party. “A Bengali woman, Nandini Chakraborty, was serving as the chief secretary. You are not merely anti-Bengali; you are also anti-women,” Banerjee said at a rally in Kolkata. She also criticised the removal of the state police chief and other officials before the polls. (PC: NDTV)

The Election Commission has replaced West Bengal’s Chief Secretary and Director General of Police ahead of the Assembly elections. Senior IAS officer Dushyant Nariala will take charge as Chief Secretary. He replaces Nandini Chakravarty. IPS officer Siddh Nath Gupta has been appointed as the new Director General of Police. He replaces Peeyush Pandey. Gupta is a 1992-batch IPS officer with over three decades of service. The Commission also transferred three other senior officers, including the Kolkata Police Commissioner. Ajay Kumar Nand will now lead the Kolkata Police. The poll body said the decision followed a review of election preparedness. Voting in West Bengal will take place on April 23 and April 29. (PC: India Today)

The BJP has offered actor-politician Vijay the post of Deputy Chief Minister if the NDA wins the Tamil Nadu Assembly election, sources said. As part of a possible alliance, the BJP has also offered around 80 seats to Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Talks between the two sides have reached the final stage ahead of the polls, sources added. Vijay is also said to be aiming for the Chief Minister’s post, which remains a key point in discussions. BJP leaders believe Vijay’s large fan base could help the alliance in closely fought constituencies. However, some of Vijay’s advisers have expressed concern about joining a national alliance so early. (PC: India Today)

The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for the 2026 Assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. Voting will begin on April 9 in Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry, while Tamil Nadu will vote on April 23. West Bengal will hold elections in two phases on April 23 and April 29. The counting of votes for all states and the union territory will take place on May 4. The elections will cover more than 800 assembly seats, and political parties are expected to intensify campaigning as the race for power begins across these key states. (PC: India Today)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has increased the monthly honorarium for purohits and muezzins by ₹500. The decision was announced hours before the Election Commission was set to declare the Assembly poll dates. With the hike, Hindu priests and Muslim clerics will now receive ₹2,000 every month. Banerjee also said the state government has approved all new applications submitted by purohits and muezzins under the scheme. “We take pride in nurturing an environment where every community and tradition is valued and strengthened,” she said. The honorarium schemes were introduced earlier to support people involved in religious and community services across the state. (PC: HT)

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) will contest 86 of the 140 seats in the upcoming Kerala Assembly election. The party has decided to give tickets again to 56 sitting MLAs. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will contest from the Dharmadom constituency in Kannur district. Former health minister K. K. Shailaja will contest from the Peravoor seat in Kannur district. She had earlier won from Mattannur with a record margin in the previous election. Peravoor is currently represented by Sunny Joseph. He is also the president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). The CPM announcement sets the stage for key contests in Kannur district ahead of the state election. (PC: India Today)

The Election Commission has announced that the West Bengal Assembly election will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4. In the 2021 election, the state voted in eight phases over more than a month. This time, polling will be shorter while other states — Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry — will vote in a single phase. The 294-seat Assembly will see a contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is seeking a fourth term. The BJP is aiming to expand its presence after winning 77 seats in the 2021 polls. (PC: NDTV)

The Election Commission on Sunday announced the schedule for assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and the Union Territory of Puducherry.   Assam, Kerala and Puducherry will vote in a single phase on April 9. Tamil Nadu will hold polling on April 23. West Bengal will vote in two phases on April 23 and April 29.   The commission said counting of votes for all states and the Union Territory will take place on May 4.   Nomination filing for Assam, Kerala and Puducherry will begin with a gazette notification on March 16. For Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Phase-1, the notification will be issued on March 30.

The Election Commission will announce the schedule for Assembly elections in five states and one Union Territory at 4 pm on Sunday. Polls are due in West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry. The terms of these assemblies end between May and June. Under election rules, voting must take place before the terms expire. The poll panel held a key meeting in New Delhi earlier this week to finalise the election timetable and polling phases. Officials also reviewed security deployment and preparedness in the poll-bound regions. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi led the review process ahead of the announcement. (PC: HT)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reportedly offered actor-politician Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), around 80 assembly seats and the post of Deputy Chief Minister as part of a potential alliance for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. According to sources, talks between the BJP and TVK have entered the final stage, with the offer aimed at strengthening the NDA’s prospects in the state. However, negotiations are not yet concluded, as Vijay is reportedly seeking the Chief Minister’s post, which remains a key sticking point. If the alliance materialises, it could significantly reshape Tamil Nadu’s electoral landscape, where small vote shifts often decide closely contested constituencies. (PC: India Today)