The Election Commission will be announcing the poll dates for five states later today. The states include Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry where elections are due in April-May. Polls are to be held for 294 seats in West Bengal, 234 seats in Tamil Nadu, 140 seats in Kerala, 126 seats in Assam and 30 seats in the Union Territory of Puducherry. After Bihar, this is the first major set of elections to be held in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.
CEC Sunil Arora had said that Assam assembly elections 2021 will be held keeping in mind the Rongali Bihu festival and CBSE board exams. Thus, it’s likely that Assam election process will be completed in April only. Arora had said that state festivals and examinations will be considered while announcing the dates for the polls in the five states. Despite COVID-19 vaccine making inroads across India, the election will be held adhering to strict Covid-19 guidelines.
Here are the key dates of the election polls state wise
Tamil Nadu assembly elections to be held in a single phase on April 6
Kerala goes to polls on April 6; counting of votes on May 2
Assam assembly elections to be held in 3 phases- 1st phase of polling- Mach 27 March, second phase polling- April 1 and third phase of polling- April 6; Date of counting May 2.
Puducherry elections to be held on April 6.
8 phase polling in West Bengal on March 27, April 1, April 6, April 10, April 17, April 22 , April 26 and April 29.
Counting of votes for all five assembly elections on May 2.