Election Commission announces election schedule for 4 states, Puducherry; two-phase polling in West Bengal

The announcement for the upcoming assembly elections in four states and Union Territory was announced on Sunday by the Election Commission.

During a presser, CEC Gyanesh Kumar announced that voting for Assam, Kerala and Puducherry will be held on a single day on April 9. While voting for West Bengal will be held in two phases i.e. April 23 and 29 and Tamil Nadu will vote on April 23.

Counting of votes for all 824 seats across four states and one Union Territory will be held on May 4.

"Voting for all seats in Assam will be held on April 9. Voting in West Bengal will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29.

"The voting for all seats in Kerala and Puducherry will take place on April 9 while all Tamil Nadu seats will go to polls on April 23," said Kumar, who was flanked by the two Election Commissioners -- Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.

Kumar said the elections must be free of violence or inducement and the EC will take strong action against any violation.

The model code of conduct has come into effect immediately with the announcement of the poll schedule.

Tamil Nadu has a total of 234 assembly seats where DMK leader M K Stalin has been the chief minister since May 7, 2021.

West Bengal has a total 294 assembly seats where TMC leader Mamata Banerjee has been serving as been in power since 2011.

Kerala has a total assembly seats of 140 where Left leader Pinarayi Vijayan has been the chief minister since 2016, leading the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.

In Assam, there are 126 assembly 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.

(with PTI inputs)