Election Commission Announces 2026 Assembly Elections Dates for 5 Regions

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially announced the schedule for the 2026 Assembly elections in five regions—Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. The announcement was made during a press conference in New Delhi on March 15, 2026, setting the stage for a major political contest across the country.

According to the Election Commission, around 17.4 crore voters are expected to participate in these elections across the five regions, making it one of the biggest democratic exercises in the country this year.

State-Wise Election Schedule

The polling process will take place in April 2026, while counting of votes for all states and the union territory will be conducted on May 4, 2026.

Kerala

• Polling: April 9, 2026
• Voting will be conducted in a single phase.

Assam

• Polling: April 9, 2026
• The election will take place in a single phase.

Puducherry

• Polling: April 9, 2026
• Voting will also occur in a single phase.

Tamil Nadu

• Polling: April 23, 2026
• The state will vote in a single phase for its 234-member assembly.

West Bengal

• Phase 1: April 23, 2026
• Phase 2: April 29, 2026
• The state will vote in two phases, a reduction from the eight phases seen in the previous election.

Counting and Results

The counting of votes for all five regions will take place on May 4, 2026, after which the results will determine the new governments in these states and the union territory.

Large-Scale Election Exercise

The Election Commission said voting will take place at over 2.19 lakh polling stations, with more than 25 lakh election officials deployed to ensure smooth polling. The poll body also emphasized that no eligible voter should be left out of the electoral rolls.

Political Significance

These elections are politically crucial as they will shape governance in several key states across southern, eastern, and northeastern India. Political parties are expected to intensify their campaigns in the coming weeks as the Model Code of Conduct has come into immediate effect following the announcement.