As per the timetable, the gazette notification for the elections will be issued on March 16, marking the formal start of the poll process. The last date for filing nominations is March 23, while the scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on March 24.
Candidates will be able to withdraw their nominations until March 26, after which the final list of contestants will be prepared.
Polling across all 126 assembly constituencies will be conducted on April 9, and the counting of votes will take place on May 4. The election process is scheduled to be completed by May 6, as per the official schedule.
Click here for live updates on Election dates announcements
Broader election exercise this year
The Election Commission of India on Sunday announced the schedule for assembly elections in five states and one Union Territory — West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry — involving around 17.4 crore voters.
Polling will be held in April, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4, 2026.West Bengal will go to polls in two phases on April 23 and April 29, while Tamil Nadu will vote in a single phase on April 23. Kerala, Assam and Puducherry will vote in a single phase on April 9.
According to the Commission, nearly 25 lakh personnel will be deployed to conduct the elections, including around 15 lakh polling staff, 8.5 lakh security personnel, 49,000 micro observers for polling and 40,000 officials for counting.
The poll panel said the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls was carried out to ensure that eligible voters are included while removing ineligible entries. It also held consultations with political parties, district officials and enforcement agencies in poll-bound states to review preparedness.
Calling elections in India a “festival of democracy”, the Commission said the exercise reflects the country’s cultural diversity, adding that observers from more than 20 countries are expected to witness the electoral process.
What happened in the last Assam polls
In the 2021 assembly elections in Assam, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance retained power, marking the first time a non-Congress government won a second consecutive term in the state.
Also Read: EC announces poll dates for five assemblies; West Bengal in two phases
The NDA crossed the majority mark comfortably, winning 75 seats in the 126-member assembly. The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 33.2% vote share, while its allies — Asom Gana Parishad and United People’s Party Liberal — added to the tally, giving the alliance a combined vote share of about 44.8%.
The opposition “Mahajot” alliance led by the Indian National Congress fell short of the majority, securing around 50 seats. The Congress won 29 seats, while ally All India United Democratic Front bagged 16.
Following the victory, Himanta Biswa Sarma replaced Sarbananda Sonowal as chief minister, marking a leadership transition within the ruling alliance.
