Assembly election dates out: Massive five-state electoral exercise begins in April

NEW DELHI: On April 9, voters will head to the polls to decide which party will govern Kerala for the next five years. The counting of votes for all states and the Union Territory is scheduled for May 4. The election notification is being issued today, and the Model Code of Conduct has come into effect following the announcement by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Voters in Kerala will head to the booths on the 25th day after the announcement and will wait another 25 days to know the results. Candidates will have 23 days to campaign.

In Tamil Nadu, voting will be held on April 23. Puducherry and Assam will go to the polls on the same day as Kerala (April 9). In West Bengal, voting will take place in two phases on April 23 and 29.

The states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and the Union Territory of Puducherry will head to the polls following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. A separate Special Revision (SR) was conducted in Assam as the National Register of Citizens (NRC) process continues. In Maharashtra, by-elections will be held in eight assembly constituencies, including Baramati, which fell vacant following the death of former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

Election Schedule

• Gazette Notification: March 16, 2026
• Last Date for Filing Nominations: March 23, 2026
• Scrutiny of Nominations: March 24, 2026
• Last Date for Withdrawal of Nominations: March 26, 2026
• Date of Polling: April 9, 2026
• Date of Counting of Votes: May 4, 2026
• Completion of Election Process: May 6, 2026

Constituencies and Electorate

• Total Assembly Seats: 140 (124 General, 14 Reserved for SC, 2 Reserved for ST)
• Total Voters: 2.70 crore
  • Male Voters: 1.31 crore
  • Female Voters: 1.38 crore
  • Sexual Minorities: 277

Polling Infrastructure

• Total Polling Booths: 30,471
  • Rural Booths: 24,341
  • Urban Booths: 6,130
• Special Booths:
  • Model Polling Booths: 790
  • Women-Managed Booths: 397
  • Remote/Unique Booths: Idamalakkudi (693 voters eligible)

Voter Demographics

• First-Time Voters (18–19 years): 4.24 lakh
• Youth Voters (20–29 years): 45 lakh
• Senior Voters (85+ years): 2.04 lakh
• Centenarian Voters: 1,571
• Persons with Disabilities (PwD) Voters: 2.43 lakh

• Service/Postal Voting Eligible Officers: 54,110

Party strength in Legislative Assemblies of other states

• Tamil Nadu (234 Seats)
  • The DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance currently holds a comfortable majority.
  • The ruling DMK alliance holds 159 seats.
  • The AIADMK-led opposition and other parties hold the remaining seats.
  • Note: Seven seats are currently reported as vacant due to various reasons (resignations, deaths, or disqualifications).
• West Bengal (294 Seats)
  • The government, led by the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), holds 225 seats.
  • The opposition, primarily the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), holds 64 seats.
  • Three seats are currently vacant.
• Assam (126 Seats)
  • The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) holds 86 seats.
  • The primary opposition, the ASOM alliance (led by the INC), holds 25 seats.
  • Other opposition parties (including the AIUDF) hold the remaining 15 seats.
• Puducherry (33 Seats: 30 Elected + 3 Nominated)
  • The ruling NDA alliance holds 23 seats.
  • The opposition 'INDIA' alliance holds 10 seats.