The Election Commission of India has officially announced the schedule for the upcoming Assembly elections in five regions: Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
According to the Commission, polling will be conducted in single phases in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, while West Bengal will vote in two phases due to the state’s large electorate and logistical considerations. The counting of votes for all states and the Union Territory will take place on May 4.
The poll schedule was announced in New Delhi by Gyanesh Kumar, who outlined the detailed timeline for the upcoming elections.
Voting for Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry will take place on April 9 in a single phase. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu will go to the polls on April 23.
For West Bengal, voting will be conducted in two phases:
First phase: April 23
Second phase: April 29
The Election Commission confirmed that vote counting for all five assemblies will be conducted on May 4.
The Assembly elections in West Bengal will be conducted in two separate phases to ensure smooth election management and security arrangements.
Phase 1: Polling in 152 Assembly constituencies on April 23
Phase 2: Polling in 142 Assembly constituencies on April 29
West Bengal has a total of 294 Assembly seats, making it one of the largest state legislatures in India. Conducting elections in multiple phases allows authorities to deploy security personnel and election staff effectively across different districts.
The Election Commission also announced the official notification dates that mark the beginning of the election process in each region.
Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry: Election notification will be issued tomorrow.
Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Phase 1: Notification will be issued on March 30.
West Bengal Phase 2: Notification will be released on April 2.
The notification initiates the process for candidates to file nominations for the Assembly elections.
Following the announcement of the poll schedule, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into force in all the states and the Union Territory involved in the elections.
The Model Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines designed to ensure free and fair elections. It regulates the behaviour of political parties, candidates, and government authorities during the election period.
Under the MCC:
Governments cannot announce new policy decisions that may influence voters.
Public resources cannot be used for campaign purposes.
Campaigning must adhere to strict ethical guidelines.
The implementation of the MCC ensures that all political parties compete on an equal footing.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar highlighted the massive scale of the upcoming electoral exercise.
According to the Commission, more than 17 crore voters are eligible to participate in the Assembly elections across the five regions.
The voter distribution is as follows:
West Bengal: Over 6 crore voters
Tamil Nadu: Nearly 6 crore voters
Kerala: Close to 3 crore voters
Assam: Over 2 crore voters
Puducherry: Around 9 lakh voters
Together, these voters will elect representatives across 824 Assembly constituencies.
The Election Commission has planned extensive logistical arrangements to conduct the elections smoothly.
More than two lakh polling stations will be set up across the states and the Union Territory.
Additionally, nearly 25 lakh election officials will be deployed to manage the polling process, including:
presiding officers
polling staff
security personnel
technical teams for monitoring and surveillance
Such a large administrative operation demonstrates the scale of India’s democratic process.
The Election Commission has issued strict directions to ensure Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) at every polling station.
These facilities include:
Drinking water for voters
Clean and accessible toilets
Clear signage and directions
These provisions aim to make voting more accessible and comfortable, particularly for elderly voters and persons with disabilities.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar also revealed that the Election Commission has introduced 30 new initiatives to strengthen transparency and accountability in the election process.
Among the key measures is the decision to limit each polling station to a maximum of 1,200 voters, ensuring smoother crowd management.
Additionally, the Commission has planned 100 percent webcasting of polling stations, allowing round-the-clock monitoring of the voting process.
Webcasting enables authorities to observe voting activities in real time and detect irregularities if they occur.
The elections are being held as the terms of the current legislative assemblies approach their conclusion.
The terms will end on the following dates:
West Bengal Assembly (294 seats): May 7
Assam Assembly (126 seats): May 20
Kerala Assembly (140 seats): May 23
Tamil Nadu Assembly (234 seats): May 10
Puducherry Assembly (30 seats): June 15
Conducting elections before the expiry of these terms ensures continuity in democratic governance.
Before announcing the schedule, the Election Commission conducted review visits to all poll-bound states and the Union Territory.
During these visits, the Commission held consultations with:
recognised political parties
Chief Electoral Officers
Chief Secretaries
Directors General of Police
Political parties also submitted suggestions regarding election arrangements and security measures.
These discussions helped the Commission assess ground-level preparedness and finalize the election plan.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar emphasised that elections in India are not merely administrative exercises but also a reflection of the country’s democratic values.
He stated that the electoral process demonstrates India’s “unity in diversity”, bringing together voters from different regions, cultures, and communities.
Large-scale elections such as these showcase the strength of democratic institutions and the participation of citizens in shaping governance.
Conclusion
The announcement of the Assembly election schedule marks the beginning of an important political season in India.
With over 17 crore voters, 824 constituencies, and millions of officials involved, the elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry will represent one of the largest democratic exercises in the world.
As political campaigns begin under the Model Code of Conduct, the focus now shifts to the voters who will determine the future leadership of these five assemblies.