India Assembly Elections 2026: West Bengal, Tamil Nadu Poll Dates Announced

India’s Election Commission has announced the schedule for legislative assembly elections in five states and one union territory, with voting set to take place in April and results to be declared in early May.

The Election Commission of India said that polls will be conducted in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry next month. While most regions will vote in a single phase, West Bengal will hold voting in two stages on April 23 and April 29. Votes across all five regions will be counted on May 4.

The announcement has triggered the enforcement of the model code of conduct, a set of guidelines regulating government actions and political campaigning during elections.

Election Schedule Across Five Regions

According to the Election Commission, elections in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry will be conducted on April 9. Tamil Nadu will vote on April 23, while West Bengal will have two rounds of voting on April 23 and April 29.

In total, around 17.4 crore registered voters across these states and territories are eligible to cast their ballots, according to official electoral rolls released by the commission.

West Bengal has the largest number of voters among the regions heading to the polls, with about 6.46 crore electors listed. The Election Commission said this figure could increase if individuals whose voter registrations are still under review are later added to supplementary electoral rolls.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said the ongoing revision of voter lists is intended to ensure accuracy. He stated during a press conference that the exercise is aimed at making sure “no eligible elector is left out while no ineligible person is included in the electoral rolls”.

West Bengal’s Two-Phase Contest

West Bengal, a politically significant state in eastern India, will vote in two phases this time, compared with the eight phases used in the previous assembly election in 2021. That earlier election was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic and stretched over more than a month.

Political parties had reportedly urged the Election Commission to limit the number of phases this time, arguing that prolonged elections increase campaign costs and may dampen voter enthusiasm.

Historically, the state has seen incidents of election-related violence, and staggered voting has been used to enable the deployment of security forces across constituencies. However, parties noted that substantial numbers of central security personnel are already stationed in the state.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, leader of the Trinamool Congress party, will be seeking a fourth consecutive term in office. Her party secured a strong victory in the 2021 election, winning 215 of the state’s 294 assembly seats.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, led nationally by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emerged as the principal opposition in that contest, winning 77 seats and significantly expanding its presence in the state legislature.

In the run-up to the election, both parties are expected to focus on contrasting campaign themes. The ruling Trinamool Congress is likely to emphasise regional identity and social welfare programmes, while the Bharatiya Janata Party has criticised the state government over corruption allegations and law-and-order issues.

Opposition leaders have also highlighted controversies such as the cancellation of thousands of government teacher appointments following a Supreme Court ruling, as well as public concern over incidents of violent crime. The state government has rejected accusations of mismanagement and has said it has responded firmly to criminal cases.

Tamil Nadu Election Details

In southern India, Tamil Nadu will hold elections for its 234-member legislative assembly on April 23. The Election Commission said the state has approximately 5.67 crore registered voters.

Of the total constituencies, 44 are reserved for candidates from Scheduled Castes and two for Scheduled Tribes, categories recognised in India’s constitution to ensure representation for historically disadvantaged communities.

Officials estimate that around 12.51 lakh young voters aged between 18 and 19 will participate in the election for the first time, the highest number among the states going to polls. The state also has more than 4.6 lakh voters with disabilities and around 3.99 lakh voters aged over 85.

More than 75,000 polling stations are being prepared across Tamil Nadu. The Election Commission said each polling station will accommodate a maximum of 1,200 voters, with additional stations set up in large residential complexes and densely populated urban areas.

Nomination papers for candidates in Tamil Nadu will begin on March 30, with the deadline for filing nominations on April 4. Scrutiny of candidates will follow on April 7, and the final date for withdrawing candidatures will be April 9.

Political and Electoral Context

The elections are taking place shortly before the current legislative assemblies in several of the regions reach the end of their five-year terms. West Bengal’s assembly is scheduled to expire first, making the timeline for vote counting and government formation particularly important.

The announcement of the election timetable has also brought political scrutiny. Opposition figures have questioned the timing of the schedule, noting that it followed recent visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to several of the states where voting will take place.

The Election Commission has said it does not engage with political criticism and emphasised that the electoral process is conducted independently according to constitutional procedures.

Alongside the assembly elections, by-elections will be held in several constituencies across different states where legislative seats became vacant due to the death of sitting members. Voting in these seats will coincide with the broader election schedule, and results will also be declared on May 4.

With tens of millions of voters preparing to participate, the upcoming elections are expected to play a significant role in shaping the political landscape across several major regions of India.