General Election to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry - Schedule of Election

1. At a Glance

ECI announced on 15 March 2026 the poll schedule for Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and the UT of Puducherry [S1][S3].
Single-phase polls in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry; two-phase poll in West Bengal; counting on 4 May 2026 [S2].
For UPSC: tests knowledge of Article 324 (ECI), RP Act 1951, Model Code of Conduct (MCC), and the constitutional cycle of state assemblies.

ECI's press communique of 15 March 2026 (PIB Release ID 2240396) notifying poll dates and triggering the MCC across the five States/UT [S1][S3].

Mandate flows from Article 324 of the Constitution; conducted under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
These five assemblies were last constituted in 2021; their 5-year terms expire across May–June 2026, necessitating fresh elections.
ECI completed a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 6 States/UT prior to notification [S5].

Announcing authority: Election Commission of India [S1].
Date of announcement: 15 March 2026 [S1].
Poll dates:
Assam, Kerala, Puducherry — 9 April 2026 (single phase) [S2].
Tamil Nadu & West Bengal Phase-I — 23 April 2026 [S2].
West Bengal Phase-II — 29 April 2026 [S2].
Counting: 4 May 2026 (Monday) [S2].
Last date for nominations (Assam, Kerala, Puducherry): 23 March 2026 [S6].
West Bengal Phase-I: 152 ACs; 44,376 polling stations [S4].
West Bengal total registered electors: 6,44,52,609; PwD electors 4,16,089; 85+ electors 3,78,979; 18–19 age cohort 5,23,229 [S4].
MCC: Came into force immediately on 15 March 2026 across the 5 States/UT and applies to the Central Government for decisions concerning these jurisdictions [S6].

Legal / Constitutional
Held under Article 324, Article 172 (5-year term of Assembly), and provisions of the RP Act, 1951 [S1].
MCC is a non-statutory ECI instrument; binding through ECI's plenary powers under Art. 324 [S6].
Administrative
ECI uses EVMs with VVPATs; first randomisation completed for Assam, Kerala, Puducherry pre-poll [S7-search].
Postal ballot extended to electors 85+, PwDs, essential services, election-duty staff [S6].
Social / Inclusion
Home voting offered to over 2.3 lakh electors across the cycle (85+ & PwD) [S6].
Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) at every polling station [S6].
Ethical / Governance
Silence Period rules and exit poll prohibition under Sec 126 & 126A of RP Act enforced [S6].
ECINET / KYC platform lets voters verify candidates' educational and criminal antecedents [S6].
Federal
Concurrent elections in 4 States + 1 UT illustrate ECI's logistical federalism; MCC binds both State and Union governments for these jurisdictions [S6].

15 March 2026: Schedule announced; MCC enforced [S1][S3].
23 March 2026: Nominations closed for Assam, Kerala, Puducherry [S6].
Late March 2026: Scrutiny of nominations concluded; 1,955 candidates in the fray (cumulative phase) [S6-search].
9 April 2026: Polling in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry [S2].
23 & 29 April 2026: West Bengal two-phase polling; Tamil Nadu polled on 23 April [S2].
West Bengal recorded highest-ever poll participation since Independence [S4].
4 May 2026: Counting of votes [S2].

ECI announced 2026 Assembly poll schedule on 15 March 2026 (PIB Release ID 2240396) [S1].
West Bengal is the only State among the five going to polls in two phases [S2].
Counting day for all five elections: 4 May 2026 [S2].
Puducherry is a Union Territory with a Legislative Assembly under the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 [S1].
Constitutional source of ECI's poll-conduct power: Article 324 [S1].
WB Phase-I: 152 Assembly Constituencies, 44,376 polling stations [S4].
WB total electors ≈ 6.44 crore; 85+ electors ~3.79 lakh [S4].
Home voting facility for 85+ years, PwD ≥ 40% disability [S6].
Model Code of Conduct applies to Centre too, but only for decisions affecting these 5 States/UT [S6].
Nominations deadline for Assam/Kerala/Puducherry: 23 March 2026 [S6].
SIR (Special Intensive Revision) of rolls precedes elections; revised schedule released for 6 States/UT [S5].
ECINET platform discloses candidates' criminal & educational antecedents [S6].

GS-II: Salient features of the Representation of People's Act; appointment to various Constitutional Posts; functions of various Constitutional Bodies (ECI).
Possible question stems: 1. "Examine the role of the Model Code of Conduct in ensuring a level playing field during elections. Is statutory backing required?" 2. "Discuss the institutional measures adopted by the ECI to ensure inclusive participation of elderly, PwD and essential-services voters." 3. "Logistical and federal challenges in conducting concurrent multi-state Assembly elections — discuss with reference to the 2026 polls."

Article 324 & Election Commission of India — constitutional grounding.
Representation of the People Acts, 1950 & 1951 — statutory base.
Model Code of Conduct — its history (since 1960 Kerala) and enforceability debate.
One Nation, One Election (Ramnath Kovind Committee) — comparative reform proposal.
EVM-VVPAT system & SC judgment (Apr 2024) — technology of voting.
Electoral Bonds Verdict (Feb 2024) — political finance.
Anti-defection law (10th Schedule) — post-poll legislative discipline.
Delimitation Commission — constituency boundaries underlying these polls.

Puducherry is a UT, not a State — yet has a Legislative Assembly (Art. 239A).
MCC is not statutory — enforced via Art. 324; do not confuse with the RP Act.
Only West Bengal had multiple phases (2) in 2026 — not all five States, unlike 2021 when WB had 8 phases.
Counting date 4 May 2026 is common to all five; don't pair separate counting dates per State.
ECI ≠ State Election Commissions (SECs handle panchayat/municipal polls under Art. 243K/243ZA).

[S1] General Election to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry – Schedule of Election (PRID 2240396) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2240396 — (tier 1)
[S2] General Elections to Legislative Assemblies and bye-elections 2026 (PRID 2253728) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2253728 — (tier 1)
[S3] General Elections and Bye-elections, 2026 (PRID 2255471) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2255471 — (tier 1)
[S4] CEO briefing & WB poll participation (PRIDs 2240988, 2256756) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2256756 — (tier 1)
[S5] ECI Revises Schedule for Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls (PRID 2202341) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2202341 — (tier 1)
[S6] MCC directions, nominations scrutiny, postal ballot, ECINET, silence period (PRIDs 2240566, 2245597, 2242483, 2248930, 2248316, 2246940) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2240566 — (tier 1)
[S7] First Randomisation of EVM-VVPATs for Assam, Kerala, Puducherry (PRID 2243273) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2243273 — (tier 1)