ECI schedules voting across five regions; counting of votes on May 4
The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for Assembly elections in four states and one Union Territory—West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry. Polling will take place on April 9 and April 23, with West Bengal voting in two phases on April 23 and April 29. The counting of votes will be held on May 4.
Announcing the schedule at a press conference in New Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said around 17.4 crore voters will participate in the elections, which will determine governments across about 824 assembly seats.
The Model Code of Conduct came into effect in the poll-bound states immediately after the announcement. Kumar also urged young and first-time voters to actively participate in the democratic process and cast their votes responsibly.
West Bengal
Assembly elections in West Bengal will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting on May 4. This marks a significant change from the eight-phase polling held during the 2021 elections amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The high-stakes contest is expected to see Mamata Banerjee leading the campaign for the Trinamool Congress, while Narendra Modi is likely to spearhead the campaign for the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Political parties had reportedly urged the Election Commission to limit polling phases this time, arguing that long election schedules increase expenses and reduce voter enthusiasm.
Tamil Nadu
Voting for the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu will be conducted in a single phase on April 23, with the results to be declared on May 4.
The state has around 5.67 crore voters, making it one of the largest electoral contests in the upcoming cycle.
Assam
In Assam, elections are also expected to be held in a single phase on April 9 for the 126-member Assembly.
The polls will be the first since the 2023 delimitation exercise, which redrew constituency boundaries based on updated population data. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is seeking a second consecutive term, while the Indian National Congress-led opposition aims to regain power after nearly a decade.
Security forces have already begun deployment across the state to ensure smooth polling.
Kerala
Kerala, recently rechristened as Keralam, will vote in a single phase on April 9 for its 140-member Assembly, with counting scheduled for May 4. The majority mark in the Assembly is 70 seats.
The election will be crucial for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Left Democratic Front, as Kerala is currently the only state governed by the Left in India.
Traditionally known for alternating governments between the LDF and the United Democratic Front, the state broke that trend in 2021 when the Vijayan-led government secured a second consecutive term. The Bharatiya Janata Party has also been gradually increasing its vote share in the state.
Puducherry
The Union Territory of Puducherry will go to the polls in a single phase on April 9, alongside Kerala and Assam. The results will be declared on May 4.
Overall, the elections across the five regions will involve 17.4 crore voters, including 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, making it one of the largest electoral exercises in the country this year.
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