Election Date 2026 Announcement Today Live Updates: CPI(M), CPI release first list of candidates for Kerala Assembly polls

West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections Dates 2026 Announcement Today Live Updates: The elections in four states -- West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam -- and a union territory, Puducherry, together will cover more than 800 Assembly seats.

Election Date 2026 Live Updates: Kerala, Assam, TN and Puducherry will vote in single phase while West Bengal will vote in two phases, the Election Commission (EC) of India announced on Sunday. Counting for all four states and one union territory will be held on May 4. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, announced the polling schedule in a press conference at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi.

Poll dates: Tamil Nadu goes to polls on April 23, while voting for Kerala, Assam and Puducherry will be held on April 9. The two phases of voting for West Bengal will be held on April 23 and 29. The elections in four states and a UT together will cover more than 800 Assembly seats. The terms of these Assemblies end in May this year. The announcement included details of the phases of polling and the counting schedule.

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First major polls after roll revision: These elections will be the first major test after the Election Commission of India carried out a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in several states. The exercise required voters to submit enumeration forms and documents to verify eligibility.

Live Updates
Mar 15, 2026 05:45 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: CPI(M) to contest from 86 seats

CPI(M) Kerala state Secretary MV Govindan announces party candidates in 75 constituencies. He also named six party backed independents. Five more independents will be named later, Govindan said.

Meaning, CPI(M) will be contesting in 86 seats (75+11 independents).

The 81 candidates announced by CPM today includes 56 sitting MLAs.

Mar 15, 2026 05:41 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: CM Pinarayi Vijayan to contest from Dharmadam

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan will contest from Dharmadam segment in Kannur, CPI(M) announces.

Mar 15, 2026 05:33 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: K K Shailaja to context from Peravoor, CPI(M) says

CPI(M) says senior leader K K Shailaja will contest from Peravoor assembly constituency in Kannur, Kerala

Mar 15, 2026 05:29 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: AAP announces first list of candidates

Minutes after the announcement of the Assembly poll schedule, the Aam Aadmi Party announced its first list of 14 candidates, including its state vice-president Anurupa Dekaraja, for the Assam assembly elections to be held on April 9.

All the constituencies included on the list are located in the Brahmaputra valley.

Mar 15, 2026 05:26 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: CPI announces candidates in 25 constituencies

The CPI announced candidates in 25 constituencies for the Kerala Assembly elections to be held on April 9.

CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam announced the candidates minutes after the Election Commission declared the poll schedule.

The party has fielded four incumbent ministers-G R Anil, J Chinchurani, K Rajan and P Prasad-in the polls.

The list also includes legislators who have completed two consecutive terms, including K Rajan, Mohammed Muhsin, E T Taison and V R Sunil Kumar.

Mar 15, 2026 05:10 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: What is BJP's plan of action?

The BJP’s immediate priorities are clear: retain Assam, win Bengal or at the very least improve its position in the state, and expand its footprint in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Read my colleagues' analysis on BJP's Assembly poll battle plan.

Mar 15, 2026 05:04 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: No inducement during model code, says CEC

Govts can take any policy decision in their wisdom before polls are announced, but any inducement not allowed during model code, says CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

Earlier in the day, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee announced an increase of Rs 500 in the monthly honorarium for purohits and muezzins.

Mar 15, 2026 04:48 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: 'Necessary to reduce number of phases'

When the ECI was asked why the number of phases in West Bengal has been brought down to two (from eight), CEC Gyanesh Kumar said the poll body found it necessary to reduce the number of phases and "bring it down to an extent where it was convenient for everybody."

Mar 15, 2026 04:45 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: 'EC will take strong action against violations'

"Elections across all four states and one UT must be free of violence or inducement, EC will take strong action against any violation," CEC said.

Mar 15, 2026 04:43 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: Bye-elections on April 9, 23

Bye-elections will be conducted on April 9 and April 23, CEC Gyanesh Kumar stated.

Mar 15, 2026 04:42 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: Tamil Nadu poll schedule

Poll schedule for Tamil Nadu

Mar 15, 2026 04:39 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: Two-phase elections in West Bengal

West Bengal will go to polls in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Here is the complete schedule:

Mar 15, 2026 04:36 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: Counting will be on May 4

Counting of votes for all 824 seats across four states and one UT will be on May 4, CEC Gyanesh Kumar says at the press conference.

Mar 15, 2026 04:35 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: Poll schedule for Tamil Nadu

Here is the poll schedule for Tamil Nadu

Mar 15, 2026 04:32 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: Kerala poll schedule

Poll schedule for Kerala

Mar 15, 2026 04:32 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: Assam poll schedule

Here is the poll schedule for Assam

Mar 15, 2026 04:29 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: Two-phase voting for Bengal, single phase for Kerala, Assam, TN

Kerala, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will vote in single phase, while West Bengal will vote in two phases on April 23 and 29.

Mar 15, 2026 04:24 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: New initiatives undertaken by ECI

New initiatives taken up by the ECI to "strengthen the process":

Mar 15, 2026 04:22 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: CEC on training election officials

To maintain uniformity in polling process, training effort has been undertaken which included training BLOs, police, DOs, communication officers, and more, says CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

Mar 15, 2026 04:18 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: Assembly tenure

General overview of tenure across states-

Mar 15, 2026 04:17 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: 'Average electors per polling station is 750-900'

The average number of electors per polling station is 750-900 across Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, said CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

Mar 15, 2026 04:12 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: 'No eligible elector should be left out, no ineligible voter should be included'

Pure electoral rolls form the bedrock of our democracy, no eligible elector should be left out and no ineligible voter should be included, CEC Gyanesh Kumar stated at the beginning of his address.

Mar 15, 2026 04:11 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: 2.18 lakh polling stations to be set up

2.18 lakh polling stations will be set up, CEC Gyanesh Kumar says in the press conference.

Mar 15, 2026 04:09 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: Around 17.4 crore voters aross four states, one UT

CEC Gyanesh Kumar has said that around 17.4 crore voters will be be casting their votes across West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.

Mar 15, 2026 04:05 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: CEC congratulates election officials for SIR work

CEC Gyanesh Kumar begins the press conference by highlighting the importance of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of rolls and congratulating BLOs and all election officials involved in SIR work.

Mar 15, 2026 03:58 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: Multi-phase polling?

Polling in West Bengal, Assam and Tamil Nadu is likely to be held in more than one phase each, while Kerala and Puducherry are expected to vote in a single phase.

Mar 15, 2026 03:38 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: Press conference at Vigyan Bhavan

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, will announce the polling and other important dates related to the elections in a press conference at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi.

Mar 15, 2026 03:27 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: Mamata hikes honorarium for purohits, muezzins by Rs 500

Hours before the announcement of assembly poll dates, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee announced an increase of Rs 500 in the monthly honorarium for purohits and muezzins. Now, beneficiaries will receive Rs 2,000 a month.

"I am pleased to announce an increase of Rs 500 in the monthly honorarium extended to our purohits and muezzins, whose service sustains the spiritual and social life of our communities. With this revision, they will now receive Rs 2,000 per month," she said in a post on X.

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Mar 15, 2026 03:16 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: Kerala is ready for political change, says Chennithala

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said the opposition UDF is fully prepared for the upcoming Kerala Assembly election and that the front would announce its candidates soon after the poll schedule is declared.

Speaking to reporters, Chennithala said many had expected the announcement of the election dates in the first week of March.

Chennithala said the UDF has completed all preparations for the elections and expressed confidence that the state is ready for a political change.

"Kerala is all set, and we are also set. The state is ready for a political change," he said.

Mar 15, 2026 03:03 PM IST
Election Date 2026 Live Updates: Welcome

Good afternoon!

The Election Commission (EC) of India is all set to announce the schedule for Assembly elections in four states  -- West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam -- and a union territory, Puducherry, at 4 pm today.

Follow this space as our team brings you live updates on the poll schedule.

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