Election Commission announces poll dates for 5 states, results on May 4th

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Election Commission of India on Sunday announced the much-anticipated dates for assembly elections in four major states: West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. Along with this, crucial by-elections to be held in several other states have also been announced. Counting of votes will take place simultaneously in all states and Union Territories on May 4th, and the public's verdict will be revealed. With the election dates announced, all political parties have geared up.

Voting will be held in two phases in West Bengal

The Election Commission has decided to conduct two-phase elections for the 294 assembly seats in West Bengal, considered politically crucial. The first phase of voting will take place on April 23rd, covering 152 constituencies. The second and final phase will be held on April 29th, covering the remaining 142 seats. A close contest is expected between the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which has been in power for several years, and the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The grand finale will be held on April 9 in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry

The Election Commission has decided to hold elections for all 126 assembly seats in Assam, 140 seats in Kerala, and all 30 seats in the Union Territory of Puducherry in a single phase on April 9. In Assam, there is a direct contest between the current NDA government and the Congress. Meanwhile, the main contest in Kerala's political arena is between the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF), where the BJP-led NDA is also striving to establish its strong presence. In Puducherry, a close contest will be seen between the Congress-led alliance and opposition parties.

Voting in Tamil Nadu on April 23, along with by-elections in several states

Tamil Nadu politics has also become increasingly active. Voting for all 234 assembly seats in the state will be held in a single phase on April 23rd. The Election Commission has also announced by-election dates in six states. By-elections for assembly seats in Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland, and Tripura will be held on April 9th, while by-elections in Maharashtra and Gujarat will be held on April 23rd.

Over 17 crore voters will decide the fate of the candidates

Announcing the election dates, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar stated that elections will be held for a total of 824 assembly seats in these states. Approximately 174 million voters will exercise their democratic rights in this mega-event. He clarified that the Commission has appointed Central Observers to ensure a completely free, fair, and peaceful election. The Election Commissioners recently visited these states to review preparations, and the voter lists have also been finalized.