General Election to Legislative Assemblies and bye-elections 2026

1. At a Glance

• Five-state/UT general election cycle of 2026 covers Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Union Territory of Puducherry, accompanied by bye-elections in 6 states, all conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) [S1][S2].
• Showcases the ECI's constitutional role under Article 324 for "superintendence, direction and control" of elections — high-yield for Polity (GS-II) and current-affairs Prelims.
• Operational interest: EVM–VVPAT commissioning, randomisation, MCC enforcement, home voting, ECINET — all examinable governance-tech facts [S2][S3].

2. Why in the News

• ECI on 15 March 2026 announced the full schedule for the 2026 General Elections to Legislative Assemblies of the four states + Puducherry and bye-elections in 6 states [S1].
• 16 April 2026: Commissioning of EVMs and VVPATs for Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Phase-I (polling 23 April) began in presence of candidates/agents and General Observers [S2].

3. Background & Evolution

• ECI established 25 January 1950; tenure of outgoing State Assemblies of TN, WB, Kerala, Assam, Puducherry runs out in 2026, triggering this synchronous cycle (previous cycle: 2021).
• VVPAT introduced nationwide rollout post 2013 SC judgment (Subramanian Swamy v. ECI); 100% EVM–VVPAT verification protocol now standard procedure including the 2026 cycle [S2].
• ECINET platform (recent ECI digital initiative) used for voter-facing services including KYC of candidates [S5].

4. Core Static Facts

• Announcing body: Election Commission of India [S1].
• Constitutional basis: Article 324 (superintendence by ECI); Articles 172 & 174 (duration & sessions of Assemblies); Representation of the People Act, 1951 (conduct of elections).
• Date of announcement / MCC trigger: 15 March 2026 [S1].
• States/UT to polls: Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Puducherry [S1].
• Bye-elections: in 6 states (specific constituencies notified by ECI) [S2].
• Polling dates:
• 9 April 2026 — Assam, Kerala, Puducherry (single phase) [S1][S4].
• 23 April 2026 — Tamil Nadu (single phase) + West Bengal Phase-I [S1][S2].
• 29 April 2026 — West Bengal Phase-II [S1].
• Counting: 4 May 2026 (Monday) for all polling States/UT [S1].
• Last date of nominations (Apr 9 polls + bye-polls): 23 March 2026; Withdrawal: 26 March 2026; 250 candidates withdrew [S4].
• Total candidates in fray: 1,955 [S6].
• Home voting: over 2.3 lakh electors opting in [S7].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Legal / Constitutional

• Article 324 empowers ECI to conduct; Article 172 caps Assembly term at 5 years [S1].
• Model Code of Conduct (MCC) comes into force on schedule-announcement date (15 Mar 2026) — non-statutory but enforceable through ECI moral authority [S1].
• Section 126 RPA, 1951: 48-hour silence period and exit-poll prohibition reiterated by ECI [S8].

Administrative / Governance

• EVM–VVPAT commissioning in presence of candidates' representatives + General Observers; mock poll of 1,000 votes in 5% randomly selected EVMs [S2].
• First randomisation of EVM-VVPATs in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry completed pre-poll [S3].
• MCMC (Media Certification & Monitoring Committee) pre-certifies print political advertisements on pre-poll & poll day [S9].
• Paid holiday on polling day mandated under Section 135B RPA, 1951 [S10].

Scientific / Technological

• Continued reliance on M3 EVMs with VVPAT; mock-poll percentage and randomisation procedures formalised [S2][S3].
• ECINET digital platform — discloses candidates' educational qualifications & criminal antecedents (per SC ADR judgments) [S5].

Social

• Home voting facility for PwD (40%+ disability), 85+ senior citizens, essential service workers — over 2.3 lakh registered [S7].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 15 Mar 2026 — Schedule announced; MCC in force [S1].
• 23 Mar 2026 — Nominations close (Phase-1 states) [S4].
• 26 Mar 2026 — Withdrawal deadline; 250 withdrew; 1,955 candidates remain [S4][S6].
• First randomisation of EVM-VVPATs in Assam/Kerala/Puducherry completed [S3].
• 9 Apr 2026 — Polling in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry [S1].
• 16 Apr 2026 — EVM/VVPAT commissioning for TN & WB Phase-I begins [S2].
• 23 Apr 2026 — TN + WB Ph-I poll; 29 Apr 2026 — WB Ph-II [S1].
• 4 May 2026 — Counting [S1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• ECI announced schedule on 15 March 2026 [S1].
• Five polling States/UT: Assam, Kerala, TN, WB, Puducherry [S1].
• Only West Bengal holds 2 phases; TN, Kerala, Assam, Puducherry are single-phase [S1].
• Bye-elections in 6 states clubbed with general elections [S1][S2].
• Counting day: 4 May 2026 (Monday) [S1].
• Mock poll of 1,000 votes in 5% randomly selected EVMs at commissioning [S2].
• Total candidates in fray after withdrawals: 1,955 [S6].
• 250 candidates withdrew nominations by 26 March 2026 [S4].
• Home voters: >2.3 lakh [S7].
• Article governing ECI's powers: Article 324 (not 326, which is universal adult suffrage).
• Statutory basis for poll conduct: RPA 1951 (not RPA 1950, which is on electoral rolls).
• ECINET — ECI digital platform showing candidates' criminal & educational antecedents [S5].
• MCMC pre-certifies print ads on pre-poll/poll day [S9].
• Section 135B RPA, 1951 — paid holiday on polling day [S10].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: "Salient features of the Representation of People's Act", "Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies" (ECI).
• GS-II (Polity & Governance): Federalism — simultaneous state polls under unified ECI machinery.
• Plausible question stems: 1. "Examine the role of the Election Commission of India in ensuring free and fair elections with reference to its conduct of 2026 State Assembly polls." 2. "Discuss the legal status and enforcement mechanism of the Model Code of Conduct." 3. "How have technological interventions — EVMs, VVPATs, ECINET, home voting — transformed Indian electoral democracy? Critically assess."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Article 324 & ECI structure — directly tested alongside this news.
• RPA, 1950 vs RPA, 1951 — distinction frequently confused.
• Model Code of Conduct — statutory status debate (2nd ARC, Dinesh Goswami).
• VVPAT & EVM controversy + SC rulings (Subramanian Swamy, ADR cases).
• Anti-defection law (10th Schedule) — relevant to post-poll govt formation.
• One Nation One Election — Kovind Committee Report (2024) context.
• Electoral Bonds judgment (Feb 2024) — campaign finance backdrop.
• State Election Commissions vs ECI — Article 243K vs 324.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• ECI is constitutional body (Art. 324), NOT statutory — frequently confused with State Election Commissions (Art. 243K).
• MCC is not statutory — enforced via ECI's moral/Art. 324 authority, not by an Act of Parliament.
• RPA, 1950 deals with electoral rolls/delimitation; RPA, 1951 governs conduct of elections — aspirants swap these.
• Only West Bengal has 2 phases in 2026 (unlike 2021 when WB had 8 phases and Assam had 3) — do not over-generalise.
• Puducherry is a UT with Legislature, governed by the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963; not a full state.
• Bye-elections are in 6 states, not 6 constituencies — count distinction matters [S2].

11. Sources

• [S1] General Election to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry – Schedule of Election — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2240396 — (tier: 1)
• [S2] General Election to Legislative Assemblies and bye-elections 2026: Commissioning of EVM-VVPATs for TN & WB Ph-I — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2252626 — (tier: 1)
• [S3] First Randomisation of EVM-VVPATs completed in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2243273 — (tier: 1)
• [S4] General Elections and bye-elections 2026: Scrutiny of Nominations concludes — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2245597 — (tier: 1)
• [S5] Know Your Candidate via ECINET Platform — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2248930 — (tier: 1)
• [S6] 1,955 candidates in the electoral fray — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2246358 — (tier: 1)
• [S7] Over 2.3 lakh Electors to avail Home Voting — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2246940 — (tier: 1)
• [S8] Prohibition of display of Election Matter in Silence Period and Exit Poll — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2248316 — (tier: 1)
• [S9] Pre-certification of print-ads by MCMC — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2249301 — (tier: 1)
• [S10] Paid Holiday on Polling Day — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2248749 — (tier: 1)