Tamil Nadu will vote on April 23 and Puducherry on April 9 for Assembly elections 2026. (Photos: Wiki, ANI)
The Election Commission of India on Sunday announced the schedule for the 2026 Assembly elections in four states and one Union Territory, including Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
According to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Tamil Nadu will go to the polls on April 23, while Puducherry will vote on April 9. The counting of votes for both regions will take place on May 4, along with results for other poll-bound states.
The announcement comes as political parties begin intensifying their campaigns, signalling the start of a high-stakes electoral contest in both regions.
Tamil Nadu will hold its Assembly election in a single phase on April 23. The election will decide the fate of the 234-member legislative assembly and is expected to witness a competitive contest among major political parties in the state.
With the polling date now announced, political parties are expected to step up campaign strategies, candidate announcements, and voter outreach programmes in the coming weeks.
The Union Territory of Puducherry will go to the polls earlier, on April 9, also in a single phase. The election will determine the composition of the 30-member Puducherry Legislative Assembly.
Political parties have already begun preliminary preparations, and the announcement of the poll schedule is likely to further intensify political activity in the region.
The Election Commission confirmed that counting of votes for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and other poll-bound states will be held on May 4.
Apart from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, elections will also be conducted in Kerala, Assam, and West Bengal. While Kerala, Assam and Puducherry will vote on April 9, Tamil Nadu will vote on April 23, and West Bengal will hold polls in two phases on April 23 and April 29.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar said the Election Commission has made extensive preparations to ensure smooth polling across the country.
More than 2.18 lakh polling stations will be set up across the five poll-bound regions, and over 25 lakh election officials will be deployed for election duty.
The Commission has also announced several measures to ensure transparency and accessibility, including:
Model polling stations
Women-managed polling booths
Polling stations managed by persons with disabilities
100% webcasting at polling stations
These measures aim to ensure a free, fair, and inclusive electoral process.
The Election Commission highlighted that the voter base includes a significant number of elderly voters, including centenarians, as well as many citizens aged above 85.
At the same time, the Commission has been engaging young and first-time voters through voter awareness initiatives under the SVEEP programme, encouraging higher participation in the democratic process.
Before announcing the schedule, the Election Commission conducted a comprehensive review of election preparedness across the poll-bound states.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, met with senior officials, district administrators, police officers, and representatives of political parties to assess the readiness of election machinery.
Officials also reviewed reports submitted by Chief Electoral Officers, Chief Secretaries, and Directors General of Police before finalising the election schedule.
With the election dates now officially announced, political campaigning in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry is expected to gain momentum in the coming weeks. Parties are likely to focus on candidate selection, alliance strategies, and voter outreach as the countdown to polling begins.
The upcoming elections are seen as crucial in shaping the political landscape of both regions for the next five years.
Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience reporting on Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes journalism plays a crucial role in amplifying unheard voices and bringing attention to issues that truly matter. Sofia has contributed articles to The New Indian Express, Youth Ki Awaaz, and Maktoob Media. She is also a recipient of the 2025 Laadli Media Awards for gender sensitivity. Beyond the newsroom, she is a music enthusiast who enjoys singing. Connect with Sofia on X: https://x.com/SBCism
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