The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday officially released the comprehensive schedule for the 2026 Assembly Elections in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, addressing a press conference in New Delhi, confirmed that the polling across these five regions will take place during the month of April, with the counting of votes set for May 4.4 crore voters. West Bengal will see a two-phase election on April 23 and April 29, while Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry are scheduled for a single-phase poll on April 9. Tamil Nadu will conduct its voting on April 23. The Model Code of Conduct has come into immediate effect following this announcement.
West Bengal to Vote in Two Distinct Phases
The 294-member West Bengal Assembly will undergo polling in two phases. Considering the state's political landscape and security requirements, the ECI has split the voting process. The first phase is scheduled for April 23, covering 152 constituencies, while the second phase will take place on April 29 for the remaining 142 seats. The primary contest in the state features the incumbent Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Mamata Banerjee, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The TMC has been in power since 2011, and this election is seen as a significant political event. The commission has directed special security arrangements to ensure peaceful polling across the state.
Single Phase Polling for Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry
In Assam, Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry, the election process will be completed in a single phase, while voters in these three regions will head to the polls on April 9. In Assam, the contest for 126 seats involves the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Congress party. Kerala, with 140 seats, will see its traditional rivalry between the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF), with the NDA also contesting. Puducherry will hold elections for its 30-member assembly on the same day, where the Congress-DMK alliance faces the coalition of All India NR Congress, BJP, and AIADMK. Counting for all these regions will occur on May 4.
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election Schedule
Tamil Nadu, which has 234 assembly seats, is scheduled to go to the polls in a single phase on April 23. Political activities in the state have intensified as parties finalize their alliances and seat-sharing arrangements. The Election Commission had previously conducted extensive reviews of the preparedness in the state. The commission has mandated the deployment of adequate security personnel across all polling stations to ensure a peaceful voting environment. Like the other states, the results for Tamil Nadu will be declared on May 4 following the counting process, marking the conclusion of the electoral exercise in the southern state.
By-elections Announced Across Six States
Alongside the general assembly elections, the ECI has announced the schedule for by-elections in vacant seats across six other states, while these include Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland, and Tripura. The by-polls are scheduled for April 9 and April 23. Specifically, voting in Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland, and Tripura will occur on April 9, while Maharashtra and Gujarat will see polling on April 23. The counting for these by-elections will also coincide with the main assembly results on May 4, ensuring a synchronized conclusion to the electoral process across the country. The commission emphasized that the same standards of conduct will apply to these by-elections.
Administrative Measures for Electoral Integrity
To uphold the principles of free and fair elections, the ECI has implemented several administrative measures. CEC Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, visited West Bengal and other states on March 10 to review ground-level preparations. Utilizing powers under Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 20B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the commission has appointed Central Observers. These officials are tasked with overseeing election management and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. The commission also noted that the revision of voter rolls has been completed, with final lists published in all poll-bound states.