The home voting facility for voters aged 85 years and above and those in the persons with disabilities (PwD) category has been extended until Monday, election officials said on Sunday. As of Sunday evening, 96% of voters in the 85-plus category and 97.4% of PwD voters who had opted for the home voting option have exercised their franchise. In Kerala, 1,39,871 of the 1,45,598 voters in the 85-plus category and 60,568 of the 62,159 voters in the PwD category have exercised this option to vote, according to data released by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (Kerala).

Since March 30, the CEO’s office has deployed 2,500 polling teams for the home voting arrangement. Meanwhile, 73.13% of voters in 14 essential services including police, fire and rescue service, media and health services also have cast their votes so far. Of the 29,812 police officers who applied for postal ballots, 22,464 have cast their votes. The CEO’s office said extensive arrangements have been made for voter facilitation centres and postal voting centres across the State.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Cooch Behar district on Sunday (April 5, 2026) to launch the BJP’s campaign for the West Bengal Assembly elections, a senior party leader said.

Mr. Modi is scheduled to address the BJP’s ‘Bijoy Sankalpa Sabha’ at the historic Ras Mela grounds in the afternoon, marking the start of the party’s intensified outreach in north Bengal, with the aim of consolidating grassroots support in a region that has become a saffron stronghold over the years and a critical electoral battlefield.

During the rally, the PM is expected to outline the party’s vision for a “developed West Bengal”, highlight issues raised in the BJP’s recently released ‘People’s Chargesheet’ against the ruling TMC in the state, and focus on governance, law and order, and alleged corruption.

– PTI