ECI announces election schedule for 4 States, Puducherry; two-phase polling in West Bengal
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar (C) with Election Commissioners S S Sandhu, (L), and Vivek Joshi, (R), during a press conference, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Sunday.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday (March 15, 2026) announced the schedule for Assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and the Union Territory of Puducherry, setting the stage for a high-stakes electoral battle in over 800 constituencies.
Addressing a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar (CEC) said the polling will begin in early April, with different States voting on separate dates. Kerala, Assam and Puducherry will go to the polls on April 9, while Tamil Nadu will vote in a single phase on April 23. Voting in West Bengal will be held in multiple phases beginning April 23.
The counting of votes for all 824 seats across the four States and the Union Territory will be held on May 4.
Flanked by the two Election Commissioners—Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, Mr. Kumar said the poll panel had completed consultations with political parties and State administration to ensure smooth conduct of the elections.
With the announcement of the schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has come into immediate effect in the poll-bound State and Union Territory.
State-wise breakups
Tamil Nadu has a total of 234 seats where DMK leader M K Stalin has been the Chief Minister since May 7, 2021.
West Bengal has a total of 294 seats, where TMC leader Mamata Banerjee has been in power since 2011.
Kerala has a total of 140 seats, where Left leader Pinarayi Vijayan has been the Chief Minister since 2016, leading the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government.
In Assam, there are 126 seats and the BJP has been in power in the Northeastern State since 2016, and Himanta Biswa Sarma has been the Chief Minister since 2021.
Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy has been in power since 2021. The UT has a total of 33 seats. This includes three members nominated by the Centre.
Mr. Kumar said the elections must be free of violence or inducement, and the EC will take strong action against any violation.
2.19 lakh polling stations
Mr. Kumar also said that voting will be held at 2.19 lakh polling stations across the four states and the UT while 25 lakh election officials will be on duty to ensure free and fair elections.
“A total of 17.4 crore voters are eligible to vote in elections to five assemblies with 824 constituencies,” he said.
He said the total number of voters of the four States and UT is equivalent to the population of Australia, France, South Africa, Germany and Canada.
The CEC said representatives of the poll bodies of 20 countries will visit the poll-bound States to get the experience of India’s “Festival of Democracy”.
(With agency inputs)
Published – March 15, 2026 04:57 pm IST
