New Delhi, March 15 The Election Commission announced on Sunday the schedule for the assembly elections in four states and one Union Territory. Polling will be held on a single day in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry on April 9, in two phases in West Bengal on April 23 and 29, and in Tamil Nadu on April 23.
Addressing a press conference here, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said that the counting of votes for all 824 seats across the 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," Kumar said.
"Voting for all seats in Kerala and Puducherry will take place on April 9, while all Tamil Nadu seats will go to the polls on April 23," Kumar added, flanked by the two Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
Kumar stated that the elections must be free from 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 of 294 assembly seats, where TMC leader Mamata Banerjee has been in power since 2011.
Kerala has a total of 140 assembly seats, 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, with Himanta Biswa Sarma serving as the chief minister since 2021.
Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy has been in power since 2021. The Union Territory has a total of 33 seats, including three nominated by the Centre.