The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially sounded the bugle for the 2026 Assembly elections, announcing the schedule for West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
During a press conference held on Sunday, March 15, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar detailed a condensed polling timeline that will see all five regions complete their voting within the month of April.
The most significant change is in West Bengal, where the marathon eight-phase schedule of 2021 has been drastically reduced to just two phases.The elections will cover 824 constituencies and involve approximately 17.4 crore eligible voters.
While Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry will head to the polls in a single phase on April 9, Tamil Nadu will vote in a single phase on April 23. West Bengal’s two-phase election is scheduled for April 23 and April 29. The Model Code of Conduct has come into immediate effect across all poll-bound regions.
The counting of votes for all 824 seats will take place simultaneously on May 4, with results expected to be declared the same day.
The stakes for this election cycle are exceptionally high as the terms of the current assemblies expire between May and June.
In West Bengal, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) faces a challenge from a resurgent BJP alliance, while in Tamil Nadu, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance looks to defend its turf against the AIADMK and a growing BJP presence.
In Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is seeking a third term for the NDA. Meanwhile, in Kerala, the LDF is aiming for a historic third consecutive term.
As the countdown to May 4 begins, the move toward fewer phases—particularly in West Bengal—suggests a focus on administrative efficiency and improved security management. Whether this condensed timeline will benefit the incumbents or the challengers remains to be seen, but for the next six weeks, these five regions will be the absolute focal point of Indian democracy.
