• உலக செய்திகள் ECI Announces Assembly Poll Schedule for Five States, Puducherry; Counting on May 4
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• ramani on 2026-03-18 09:11:10

News by Maahgeshan

NEW DELHI  18 Mac 2026 

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on March 15 announced the schedule for Assembly elections in four States and the Union Territory of Puducherry. Polling will be held in Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry on April 9; Tamil Nadu on April 23; and West Bengal in two phases on April 23 and 29. Counting of votes for all regions will take place on May 4, determining governments across a total of 824 constituencies.

 

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, who addressed a press conference at Vigyan Bhawan in the national capital, stated that approximately 17.4 crore eligible voters will exercise their franchise across the five regions. As per final electoral rolls, Assam has around 2.25 crore voters, Kerala 2.70 crore, Puducherry 9.44 lakh, Tamil Nadu 5.67 crore, and West Bengal 6.44 crore. [Photo Credit: Naveen Sharma/ANI]

 

The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into immediate effect across all five regions upon the announcement. The CEC clarified that decisions and actions taken by respective State governments prior to the MCC’s imposition remain their prerogative, while all subsequent activities must adhere to the code.

 

“I’d like to make clear that the model code of conduct is applicable from now onwards. So actions taken prior to the model code of conduct are the prerogative of the concerned government. But now onwards, the model code of conduct shall be applicable,” Kumar said.

 

He added that nearly 24 enforcement agencies have been tasked with ensuring elections are free from inducements and violence. District Collectors and Superintendents of Police have been directed to act impartially, and election observers will be deployed across the States with their details made public. The Commission will also closely monitor misinformation on social media platforms.

 

Key Contest Scenarios

 

- Assam: The ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will contest all 126 seats against the Congress.

- Kerala: The 140-seat Assembly will see a main contest between the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and United Democratic Front (UDF), with the NDA also in the fray. The BJP plans to field candidates for around 100 seats, while allies Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) and Twenty20 will cover the remaining 40.

- West Bengal: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress is seeking a fourth consecutive term across the State’s 294 seats, with the BJP as the principal challenger.

- Tamil Nadu: Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s Secular Progressive Alliance, led by the DMK, will face off against the BJP-AIADMK combine for 234 constituencies.

- Puducherry: The ruling alliance of the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC), BJP, and AIADMK will contest the 30-seat Assembly against the Congress-DMK-CPI combine.

 

The CEC made a special appeal to young and first-time voters, saying, “My dear friends, you are about to step into one of the most important responsibilities of your life, exercising your democratic right, the right to vote. I urge you to participate enthusiastically in this great democratic exercise and cast your vote with pride, responsibility and confidence. Your vote is your choice in shaping the future of your state and the nation.”

 

A special intensive revision of electoral rolls has been completed for all regions, with final rolls already published. The Commission had earlier held meetings with Chief Electoral Officers, Chief Secretaries, and Directors General of Police of the respective States and Union Territory to review poll preparedness.

 

Byelections Announced for Eight Constituencies

 

The ECI also declared byelections for eight Assembly constituencies across six States – Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland, and Tripura – to be held in two phases. Polling for constituencies in Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland, and Tripura will take place on April 9, while those in Gujarat and Maharashtra will vote on April 23. Counting for all byelections will be on May 4, with the process concluding by May 6.

 

For the first phase, the gazette notification will be issued on March 16, with the last date for filing nominations on March 23, scrutiny on March 24, and final withdrawal of candidatures on March 26.

 

For the second phase in Gujarat and Maharashtra, the gazette notification will be issued on March 30, nominations close on April 6, scrutiny is on April 7, and withdrawal deadline is April 9.

 

All eight byelections were necessitated by the deaths of sitting legislators. The vacant seats are: 21-Ponda (Goa), 111-Umreth (Gujarat), 24-Bagalkot and 107-Davanagere South (Karnataka), 223-Rahuri and 201-Baramati (Maharashtra), 28-Koridang (ST) (Nagaland), and 56-Dharmanagar (Tripura).