Assembly elections announced in four states and the Union Territory of Puducherry, voting to take place between April 9 and 29 and counting of votes on May 4

The Election Commission has announced that general elections for a total of 824 assembly seats in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry will be held between April 9 and April 29.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanish Kumar announced the schedule for the assembly elections at a special press conference on Sunday, saying that elections for Assam's 126 seats, Kerala's 140 seats, and Puducherry's 30 seats will be held in a single phase on April 9. Voting for Tamil Nadu's 234 seats will take place in a single phase on April 23. Meanwhile, elections in West Bengal will be held in two phases on April 23 and 29. In the first phase, voting will take place for 152 seats, and in the second phase, voting will take place for 142 seats.
Counting of votes for the assembly elections in all these states and Puducherry will take place on May 4. With the announcement of the elections, the model code of conduct has come into effect in these states.
Mr. Gyanish Kumar said that approximately 2.19 polling stations are being set up for 17.4 crore voters in the four states and the Union Territory. The commission has announced the deployment of about 2.5 million election personnel to ensure free and fair voting. The Chief Election Commissioner said that the Election Commission has announced the election schedule after visiting these states and holding detailed discussions with all major political parties, state administration, and police authorities. Election Commissioners Dr. S.S. Sandhu and Vivek Joshi were also present at the press conference.
Mr. Gyanish Kumar said, "The commission is ready to welcome every voter at the polling station. We especially appeal to first-time voters and young voters to exercise their right to vote with enthusiasm, dignity, and responsibility and fulfill their duty in democracy."
It is worth noting that the current government in Assam is ending on May 20, 2026, the Kerala Assembly is ending on May 23, 2026. Similarly, the current assembly in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu will end on May 7, 2026, and May 10, 2026, respectively, while the current assembly in Puducherry will end on June 15, 2026.
Recently, a special comprehensive review (SIR) of electoral rolls has been conducted in these states.
After the completion of the periodic review and special comprehensive review (SIR) of electoral rolls, the final electoral roll was published in Assam on February 10, 2026, in Puducherry on February 14, 2026, and in Tamil Nadu on February 17, 2026. While the final electoral roll was published in West Bengal on February 28, 2026, and in Kerala on February 21, 2026.