Over 17.4 crore voters eligible to vote; polling to begin from April 9 and counting on May 4
TFP Bureau, New Delhi, March 15,2026: The Election Commission of India on Sunday announced the schedule for the upcoming Assembly elections in the States of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, along with the Union Territory of Puducherry. The polling process will take place between April 9 and April 29, while counting of votes for all constituencies will be held on May 4.
The announcement was made at a press conference held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
According to the schedule released by the Commission, polling in Assam, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry will be conducted in a single phase on April 9, 2026. The election in Tamil Nadu will take place on April 23.
The election in West Bengal will be conducted in two phases. The first phase of polling will take place on April 23, while the second phase will be held on April 29. The counting of votes for all five elections will be conducted simultaneously on May 4.
With the announcement of the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has come into immediate effect in the poll-bound States and the Union Territory. The code imposes restrictions on government announcements, public spending and policy decisions to ensure a level playing field for all political parties during the election period.
Election officials stated that the upcoming polls will involve a massive electoral exercise, with an estimated 17.4 crore voters eligible to cast their votes across the five States and the Union Territory. The Commission has begun preparations to ensure smooth and transparent voting, including deployment of polling personnel, security arrangements and voter awareness campaigns.
Addressing the media, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said the Commission had undertaken a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in accordance with Article 326 of the Constitution of India. The exercise was aimed at ensuring that all eligible citizens are included in the electoral rolls while preventing the inclusion of ineligible voters.
He emphasised that maintaining accurate and updated electoral rolls is essential for free and fair elections, describing “pure electoral rolls” as the “bedrock of democracy.”
The Commission also highlighted that various technological and administrative measures have been implemented to strengthen the electoral process. These include updating voter databases, facilitating voter registration drives and ensuring accessibility at polling stations.
The Assembly elections in these States are expected to witness intense political competition, as major national and regional parties prepare for campaigns across the region. Political parties are likely to begin large-scale campaigning following the announcement of the schedule.
Officials said the Election Commission will closely monitor compliance with election rules and the Model Code of Conduct throughout the campaign period to ensure that the electoral process remains transparent, peaceful and fair.
