India
oi-Gaurav Sharma
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday announced the polling schedule for the upcoming Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, Puducherry, and West Bengal. The announcement was made during a press conference in New Delhi by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
As per the schedule, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry will vote on April 9, while Tamil Nadu will go to polls on April 23. West Bengal will vote in two phases-April 23 and April 29. The counting of votes for all states and the Union Territory will take place on May 4.
The Election Commission of India announced the polling schedule for Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu (April 23), Kerala, Assam, Puducherry (April 9), and West Bengal (April 23/29), with vote counting nationwide on May 4.
With the election calendar now out, political parties are preparing for high-stakes contests across southern, eastern and northeastern India.
State-wise Poll Schedule
- Tamil Nadu (234 seats): Polling on April 23; counting on May 4.
- Kerala (140 seats): Voting on April 9; counting on May 4.
- Assam (126 seats): Voting on April 9; counting on May 4.
- Puducherry (30 seats): Polling on April 9; counting on May 4.
- West Bengal (294 seats): Two phases-152 seats on April 23 and 142 seats on April 29; counting on May 4.
Looking Back: How Parties Performed in the 2021 Assembly Elections
West Bengal: TMC’s Dominant Victory
In the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by Mamata Banerjee secured a decisive victory.
- TMC: 213 seats, 48.5% vote share
- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): 77 seats, 38.5% votes
- Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSMPA): 1 seat, 1.4% votes
- Independents: 1 seat, 1.6% votes
- NOTA: 1.1% votes
The election saw a dramatic rise in BJP’s vote share, but TMC retained a commanding majority.
Tamil Nadu: DMK Returns to Power
In 2021 Tamil Nadu elections, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) returned to power under M. K. Stalin.
- DMK: 133 seats, 38% votes
- All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK): 66 seats, 33.5% votes
- Indian National Congress: 18 seats, 4.3% votes
- Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK): 5 seats, 3.8% votes
- Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK): 4 seats, 1% votes
- Others: 8 seats, 19.4% votes
- NOTA: 0.7%
The victory marked the DMK’s return to power after a decade.
Kerala: Historic Consecutive Win for LDF
The 2021 Kerala Assembly election made history as the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) retained power.
- Communist Party of India (Marxist): 62 seats, 25.5% votes
- Indian National Congress: 21 seats, 25.2% votes
- Communist Party of India: 17 seats, 7.6% votes
- Indian Union Muslim League: 15 seats, 8.3% votes
- Independents: 6 seats, 5.8% votes
- Others: 19 seats, 27.6% votes
- NOTA: 0.5%
The result was significant as Kerala traditionally alternates governments every five years.
Assam: BJP-led NDA Retains Power
In Assam, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance retained power in 2021.
- BJP: 60 seats, 33.6% votes
- Indian National Congress: 29 seats, 30% votes
- All India United Democratic Front: 16 seats, 9.4% votes
- Asom Gana Parishad: 9 seats, 8% votes
- United People’s Party Liberal: 6 seats, 3.4% votes
- Independents: 1 seat, 6% votes
- Others: 5 seats, 9.6% votes
- NOTA: 1.1%
Puducherry: AINRC-led Alliance Forms Government
In Puducherry, the All India N.R. Congress emerged as the largest party.
- AINRC: 10 seats, 26.2% votes
- Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam: 6 seats, 18.8% votes
- BJP: 6 seats, 13.8% votes
- Congress: 2 seats, 15.9% votes
- Independents: 6 seats, 12.8% votes
- NOTA: 1.3%
High Stakes Ahead
The 2026 elections are expected to be closely watched, with regional parties defending their turf and national parties aiming to expand their influence. With five governments up for re-election, the results on May 4 will significantly shape the political landscape across southern, eastern and northeastern India.
