Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited West Bengal and took a boat trip on the Ganges River during his tour. After he shared photos of the visit on social media, political criticism followed. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee mocked the prime minister, suggesting he should also take a dip in the Yamuna River.

According to Indian media reports, Banerjee made the remarks at a public rally in Howrah, saying Modi chose the Ganges because it is clean, unlike the polluted Yamuna in Delhi. She contrasted the two rivers, arguing that while the Ganges in Bengal is suitable for travel, the Yamuna remains heavily polluted under Modi’s government.

The Yamuna’s pollution has been a long-standing issue in Delhi, with little visible progress in controlling it despite repeated political discussions. Analysts view Modi’s Ganga trip as politically significant ahead of the West Bengal elections, especially after the recent budget announcement of a corridor to improve connectivity between Varanasi and Kolkata.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released its April 2026 World Economic Outlook, showing that India has dropped from the top five to sixth place among the world’s largest economies. The United States remains the largest economy with over 32.4 trillion dollars in GDP, followed by China at 20.8 trillion, Germany at 5.4 trillion, Japan at 4.4 trillion, and the United Kingdom at 4.3 trillion. India’s nominal GDP is estimated at 4.15 trillion dollars, slightly below the UK and Japan.

According to the IMF, India’s shift in ranking is mainly due to changes in currency exchange rates and the adoption of a new GDP base year. The Indian government updated its methodology using 2022–23 as the new base year, revising earlier figures downward by about 3–4 percent. The rupee’s depreciation of roughly 10 percent against the US dollar over the past year also contributed to the decline.

The IMF projects that India will regain its position by 2027, overtaking the UK and Japan, and could surpass Germany by 2031 to become the world’s third-largest economy.

Indian Home Minister Amit Shah made a strong political statement after the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections. Speaking at a rally in Balagarh, Hooghly, on April 23, he claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to win at least 110 of the 152 seats contested in the first phase. Shah expressed confidence that after the second phase of voting on April 29, the BJP would secure an absolute majority to form the next state government.

Shah announced that if the BJP comes to power, the party will appoint a Bengali who studied in a Bengali-medium school as the state’s chief minister. He also accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of corruption worth 3,000 crore rupees and promised to release a white paper detailing the alleged irregularities. Shah further warned against voter intimidation and vowed strict action against illegal immigration, claiming it harms local employment and ration systems.

His remarks, including sharp criticism of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and warnings to political opponents, have intensified the state’s already heated election atmosphere ahead of the second phase of polling.

Tamil Nadu set a new record in India's electoral history with an unprecedented voter turnout of 84.69 percent in the 2026 state assembly election held on April 23. According to preliminary data from the Election Commission, polling took place across 234 constituencies from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with more than 48.5 million voters casting their ballots to form the 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar welcomed the remarkable participation, noting that both Tamil Nadu and West Bengal recorded their highest voter turnouts this year. He expressed appreciation to every voter in both states for their engagement in the democratic process.

Analysts cited in the report said the high turnout reflects strong public confidence and enthusiasm for democratic practice in the state. They suggested that such widespread participation could play a significant role in shaping the formation of the next government and Tamil Nadu’s political future.

The Trinamool Congress has expressed strong confidence in its victory following the completion of the first phase of voting in West Bengal. Party leaders said that after polling in 152 constituencies, they are close to forming the government. According to their estimates, the party could win at least 125 seats, possibly rising to 135. Senior leaders Kunal Ghosh and minister Bratya Basu stated that the voting pattern matched their forecasts, while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told a rally in Kolkata that public sentiment indicated her party was already ahead.

Trinamool leaders attributed the high voter turnout to public anger over alleged irregularities in the voter list, claiming that many legitimate voters had been excluded. They said this led to a protest vote, particularly among women, which they believe benefited the party. Bratya Basu rejected the notion that high turnout signals anti-incumbency, citing Bihar as an example where the ruling party retained power despite heavy voting.

The party’s top leadership maintained that both its vote share and seat count would rise, with similar confidence voiced by national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

The Indian Embassy in Tehran has issued a new advisory urging all Indian citizens currently in Iran to leave the country as soon as possible. The directive, released on Thursday, also strongly advises against any travel to Iran by air or land. The embassy cited ongoing regional tensions and uncertainty as the main reasons for the warning.

According to the embassy statement, restrictions and uncertainty in the airspace due to regional instability continue to affect international flight operations to and from Iran. The advisory comes amid a volatile security situation in West Asia, where geopolitical tensions and air travel disruptions have persisted.

The embassy further instructed that Indian citizens in Iran must depart only through officially coordinated land routes. It has also provided helpline numbers and an email address to assist citizens seeking to leave the country safely.

India’s Home Ministry has reportedly proposed releasing crocodiles and snakes in riverine areas along the Bangladesh-India border that remain unfenced. The proposal, reported by The Telegraph India, aims to strengthen border security in regions where surveillance is difficult. However, the plan has triggered internal disagreement within the Border Security Force (BSF).

Former BSF Director General and Padma Shri recipient Prakash Singh criticized the idea as foolish, warning that it could endanger civilians living near the border. He questioned how animals could distinguish between Indian and Bangladeshi nationals. According to a senior BSF source, the ministry has asked the force to assess the feasibility of the proposal, but many officers oppose it due to potential risks, especially during floods.

A follow-up meeting is scheduled next week to continue discussions. The India-Bangladesh border stretches about 4,096 kilometers, with roughly 175 kilometers consisting of rivers and difficult terrain that complicate monitoring, according to the Home Ministry.

West Bengal recorded an exceptionally high voter turnout during the first phase of its assembly elections, following the removal of about 9.1 million names from the electoral roll through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. According to the Election Commission, by 5 p.m. on Thursday, the average turnout across 152 constituencies had reached 89.93 percent, surpassing previous records from 2021 and 2024. South Dinajpur district reported the highest turnout at 93.12 percent, followed by Cooch Behar at 92 percent. Seven of the sixteen districts voting that day saw participation above 90 percent.

Analysts and observers noted that voter enthusiasm was unusually strong from early morning. Political analyst Biswajit Bhattacharya described the steady rise in turnout as unprecedented. Researcher Sabir Ahmed from the Sabar Institute suggested that many migrant workers may have returned home to vote, driven by concern over the SIR process. Asif Farooq of the Migrant Workers’ Unity Forum said voters were eager to ensure their names remained on the rolls, even keeping photocopies of voter slips as proof.

Observers believe the heightened turnout reflects public determination to assert voting rights amid uncertainty caused by the SIR exclusions.

Syed Muhammad Reza Ali Mirza, known as 'Chhote Nawab' and a descendant of Mir Jafar, was unable to vote in the recent West Bengal election held on April 23, 2026. According to his family, more than 150 members of Mir Jafar’s lineage, including his son Syed Muhammad Fahim Ali Mirza, were excluded from the official voter list. The first phase of polling took place in Murshidabad, but those whose names were missing could not cast their votes.

The family resides in and around Kella Nizamat in Lalbagh, Murshidabad. They stated that after the preliminary voter list was published, several family members were called for hearings and submitted all required documents. Despite this, their names were reportedly removed from the final list.

The report, citing BBC Bangla, highlights the family’s complaint but does not include any official response or explanation from election authorities regarding the omission.

The first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections saw an average voter turnout of 78.77 percent by 3 p.m. on Thursday, according to data from the state election commission. The highest turnout was recorded in Shamsherganj constituency of Murshidabad district, where 87.53 percent of voters cast their ballots. Shamsherganj, a Muslim-majority area, had previously seen the highest number of names removed from the voter list.

Lalgola and Bhagabangola constituencies, which also had large numbers of names deleted from the electoral rolls, recorded approximately 85 percent and 84 percent turnout respectively. BBC correspondents visiting these areas observed that many migrant workers had returned home from other states specifically to vote. Residents reportedly feared that failing to vote might lead to their names being removed from the voter list.

In Nandigram, where opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari is contesting, the turnout reached 81.3 percent by 3 p.m., while Purulia recorded the lowest turnout at 72.22 percent.

The first phase of the West Bengal Assembly election began under tight security across 16 districts and 152 constituencies, but the process has been overshadowed by a major controversy over the ‘SIR’ procedure. Allegations have surfaced that millions of voters were removed from the rolls, reshaping the political landscape and sparking debate over whether the election is a contest of power or a struggle for democratic rights.

According to the report, around 9.1 million names were excluded from the voter list, with the Trinamool Congress claiming that at least 4 million of them were legitimate voters. Analysts suggest the SIR process may be a calculated political move rather than a routine administrative step, with accusations that the BJP is attempting to alter the electoral balance. The Trinamool has responded by mobilizing public opinion through protests and a “Black Day” campaign under the Vote Rights Protection Forum.

The election has become deeply polarized, with the BJP emphasizing development and employment while invoking religious themes, and the Trinamool countering with regional identity narratives. The outcome, due May 4, is expected to test the resilience of democratic institutions in the state.

Tension broke out in Murshidabad district of West Bengal on Thursday, April 23, 2026, shortly after the start of the first phase of voting. The incident occurred in Shibnagar village under the Naoda assembly constituency, where supporters of the Trinamool Congress clashed with Humayun Kabir, a former party leader and founder of the Amjanata Unnayan Party (AUJP).

As Humayun Kabir arrived at a polling station, Trinamool supporters reportedly chanted slogans telling him to leave and surrounded his car, accusing him of being an agent of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The confrontation created severe tension around the polling area, disrupting the atmosphere of the election process.

Humayun Kabir, currently a legislator from Bharatpur, was expelled from the Trinamool Congress in December of the previous year after proposing the construction of a mosque modeled after the Babri Masjid. Following his expulsion, he formed his own political party and is contesting again in the ongoing election.

Political tension in West Bengal has intensified as the state assembly election enters a critical phase. Mamata Banerjee alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has deployed every possible force except Rafale fighter jets to win the election. Her remark, seen as a sharp political jibe, also highlights concerns over the excessive influence of central forces, portraying the election as an unequal contest.

Voting began in 152 constituencies across 16 districts, revealing deep political polarization. The heavy deployment of central security forces and a series of Election Commission restrictions have reportedly created fear and division among voters, raising questions about the freedom and fairness of the democratic process. Mamata’s criticism centers on the militarized security presence, which she claims intimidates ordinary voters.

Meanwhile, Amit Shah has taken a contrasting approach, attacking the Mamata government over corruption and promising one lakh jobs annually for youth. His campaign also hints at religious polarization, further complicating the political landscape. Additional unrest has emerged as the ‘Votadhikar Raksha Mancha’ called for a ‘Black Day’ and complaints surfaced about voter list exclusions.

The 2026 West Bengal Assembly election is underway, with the first phase of polling taking place across 152 constituencies. According to data from the Election Commission, by 1 p.m. on April 23, voter turnout across the state had reached 62.18 percent. West Midnapore recorded the highest turnout at 65.77 percent, while Malda district saw the lowest at 58.45 percent.

Among individual constituencies, Shamsherganj reported the highest turnout at 71.07 percent, followed by Nandigram with 65.46 percent and Behrampore with 61.69 percent. In comparison, Tamil Nadu recorded a 56.81 percent turnout by the same time.

The figures indicate a steady rise in participation as the day progresses, suggesting strong voter engagement in the opening phase of the state election.

The first phase of voting in the West Bengal Assembly election began on April 23, 2026, under heavy security. Polling started at 7 a.m. across 152 constituencies in 16 districts of North and South Bengal. The second phase will be held on April 29 for the remaining 142 seats, with results scheduled for May 4. The contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has created a tense, war-like atmosphere across the state.

Thousands of central paramilitary personnel have been deployed, and the Election Commission has imposed multiple restrictions, including Section 144 in border districts. Allegations have surfaced that millions of names were removed from the voter list under a controversial process called SIR, sparking protests and accusations of disenfranchisement. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of using military-style intimidation, while Home Minister Amit Shah countered with corruption allegations and religious appeals.

Observers describe this election as one of the most contentious in the state’s history, with widespread polarization and protests over voter rights. The outcome, to be announced on May 4, is expected to shape the political future of West Bengal.