EC Announces Assembly Poll Dates for West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, March 15, 2026: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday announced the schedule for Assembly elections in four states and one Union Territory—West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry—with counting of votes set for May 4.

According to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, polling will be held in two phases in West Bengal on April 23 and April 29, while Tamil Nadu will vote on April 23. Elections in Kerala, Assam and Puducherry will take place on April 9.

The elections will determine governments across around 824 Assembly seats. A total of about 17.4 crore voters are expected to participate in the electoral process, the CEC said during a press briefing in New Delhi.

State-wise voter figures include 2.50 crore in Assam, 2.70 crore in Kerala, 9.44 lakh in Puducherry, 5.67 crore in Tamil Nadu and 6.44 crore in West Bengal.

Kumar also noted that election officials from 20 countries will visit India to observe and learn from its democratic processes. With the announcement of the poll schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has come into immediate effect in all five poll-bound regions.

Appealing to young and first-time voters, the CEC urged them to participate actively in the democratic exercise and cast their votes with pride and responsibility. He emphasised that maintaining “pure electoral rolls” is essential for free and fair elections.

Among the key contests, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance will face the Indian National Congress in Assam’s 126-seat Assembly.

In Kerala, the main contest is expected between the Left Democratic Front and the United Democratic Front for 140 seats, with the NDA also in the fray.

In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her All India Trinamool Congress are seeking a fourth consecutive term, while the BJP is attempting to unseat the ruling party in the 294-member Assembly.

In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin leads the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led Secular Progressive Alliance against the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam–BJP combine in the 234-seat Assembly.

Meanwhile, in Puducherry, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy of the All India N.R. Congress will face the DMK–Congress alliance in the Union Territory’s Assembly elections.