Overview
- The campaign for 152 seats, which closed Tuesday evening, gives way to a silence period before Phase I voting on April 23.
- The Election Commission has positioned about 2,450 companies of central armed police forces, roughly 250,000 personnel, to secure the two‑phase election.
- A Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls, a sweep meant to clean the lists, flagged about 34 lakh cases and led to large deletions that critics say could disenfranchise many voters.
- In their final rallies, Amit Shah pressed themes of corruption, infiltration and a promise to address Gorkha demands, while Mamata Banerjee accused the Centre of misusing security forces, as the state’s chief electoral officer noted some clashes and said action was underway.
- Opposition voices, including Kapil Sibal, alleged the Commission’s heavy security build‑up and administrative moves favor the BJP, sharpening an institutional standoff on the eve of polling.