India’s Mega Democratic Exercise: Assembly Polls in Five States in April, Results on May 4

Mar 15, 2026 - 17:29

India’s Mega Democratic Exercise: Assembly Polls in Five States in April, Results on May 4

Ananya soch: The Election Commission of India has officially announced the schedule for the 2026 Assembly Elections in five states and one Union Territory. Addressing a press conference at Vigyan Bhawan, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar confirmed that polling in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry will take place in April 2026, while counting of votes will be conducted simultaneously on May 4, 2026.

The commission stated that the tenure of these assemblies ends between May and June 2026, making timely elections necessary. With the announcement, the Model Code of Conduct has come into immediate effect.

State-wise Poll Schedule

State	Seats	Poll Date	Phases	Counting
Assam	126	April 9	1	May 4
Kerala	140	April 9	1	May 4
Puducherry	30	April 9	1	May 4
Tamil Nadu	234	April 23	1	May 4
West Bengal	294	April 23 & 29	2	May 4

Overall, 824 assembly seats will go to polls, with more than 200 million voters expected to participate.

Key Political Contests

The elections are expected to witness intense competition.

Himanta Biswa Sarma leads the ruling BJP in Assam.
Pinarayi Vijayan seeks a third term for the Left Democratic Front in Kerala.
M. K. Stalin hopes to retain power for the DMK in Tamil Nadu.
Mamata Banerjee faces strong opposition while defending power in West Bengal.

In Puducherry, the NR Congress-BJP alliance government faces challenges from the Congress and regional parties.

Election Preparations

The Election Commission has confirmed that EVM and VVPAT machines are fully ready for deployment. Polling stations will be monitored through webcasting, and additional security forces will be deployed in sensitive regions, particularly in West Bengal.

The commission has also urged citizens, especially first-time voters, to actively participate in the democratic process.

Key Voter Facilities