Polling remained brisk in southern and eastern India on polling day, with Tamil Nadu recording a voter turnout of 56.81% till 1 PM, while West Bengal registered 62.18% voting during the same period, according to provisional figures released by the Election Commission.

In West Bengal, the electoral process witnessed fresh political friction as Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate from Sujapur, Sabina Yasmin, accused Central Forces of interfering in the voting process, alleging that their presence was affecting the smooth conduct of polling.

At the same time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi intensified the BJP’s campaign in West Bengal, addressing a rally in Nadia district, which is set to vote in the second phase on April 29.

During the rally, Modi launched a sharp attack on the ruling Trinamool Congress, accusing it of failing to ensure the safety of women in the state. Referring to the alleged law-and-order situation under the Mamata Banerjee-led government, Modi said, “Our sisters and daughters have had to bear the brunt of the TMC's ‘Maha Jungle Raj.’ The gang rape and murder of a minor girl in Hanskhali stands as a stark example of the TMC’s fear-driven model. Incidents of trafficking involving young girls are also on the rise. The daughters of Bengal seek liberation from this climate of fear.”

The Prime Minister also alleged that the TMC had opposed legislative efforts aimed at enhancing women’s political participation. He claimed that the TMC, along with the Congress, had blocked the bill providing 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies, accusing the opposition parties of resisting women’s empowerment for political reasons.

As voting continues, political tensions remain high in West Bengal, where the battle between the BJP and TMC has intensified ahead of the next phase of polling.