Election Commission Announces Assembly Election Schedule for Five States; Polling to Begin April 9
NEW DELHI — March 15, 2026 — The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially sounded the poll bugle for the 2026 Assembly elections, announcing the schedule for Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
During a press conference on Sunday, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar detailed a massive electoral exercise involving 824 assembly constituencies and 17.4 crore eligible voters. To facilitate this “festival of democracy,” roughly 2.19 lakh polling stations—primarily in rural areas—will be manned by a workforce of 25 lakh personnel.
The CEC emphasized inclusivity and transparency, noting that webcasting will be implemented in 100% of polling stations, alongside the establishment of special booths managed by women and persons with disabilities.
According to the finalized timeline, polling will commence on April 9 for Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry, followed by Tamil Nadu on April 23.
West Bengal will undergo a two-phase election on April 23 and April 29, with the final counting of votes for all regions scheduled for May 4, 2026.