Assembly Elections 2026 LIVE: Bengal BJP chief Suvendu Adhikari likely to take on Mamata; T.N. Congress chief says TVK’s Vijay won’t ally with BJP

LoP in West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, is likely to take on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata’s Bhabanipur seat. File
| Photo Credit:
ANI

With West Bengal headed to polls in the coming month, the BJP on Monday (March 16, 2026) announced its first list of 144 candidates for the Assembly election in the State. Of the two constituencies he’s contesting from, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Suvendu Adhikari is likely to take on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata’s Bhabanipur seat.

Meanwhile amid speculation in Tamil Nadu, the State Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai has said that TVK leader Vijay wouldn’t join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Speaking to reporters, Mr. Selvaperunthagai said, “I fully believe that he wouldn’t take such a suicidal step,” he said.

Also read | Assam election: Almost 50% voters in Assam are women

The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is in force across the four poll-bound States — Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal — and one Union Territory, Puducherry.

While West Bengal will vote in two phase, all the other elections will happen in a single phase. Assam, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry will go to polls on April 9, 2026. In Tamil Nadu, the election will be conducted on April 23. The first phase of elections will happen on April 23, 2026 in West Bengal and the second phase on April 29, 2026. The counting for all these elections will be held on May 4, 2026.