Assembly Elections 2026 Voting Highlights: Voting for the high-stakes polling in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry has kick-started today. While the BJP is seeking another win in Assam, Kerala's Left Front is aiming for a fifth straight term. In Puducherry, N Rangaswamy's AINRC is plotting a fourth win.
The voting is underway for 126 seats in Assam, 140 in Kerala, and 30 in Puducherry in this phase of the election. The results will be declared on May 4.
In Assam, the key contest is between the BJP and Congress. The election will be the first since delimitation in the northeastern state in 2023, a controversial exercise that led to the redrawing of constituencies in areas where the Muslim community's votes were influential. In Kerala, the election is shaping as a three-way battle between the BJP, the ruling Left, and the Congress - with the BJP expected to do better than usual. In Puducherry, the contest is between Rangaswamy's NR Congress, which is allied with the BJP and AIADMK, against the Congress-DMK alliance. Actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) will make its electoral debut.
Here are the highlights for the Assembly Elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry:
Assembly Elections 2026 Live Updates: Puducherry Sees Highest-Ever Voter Turnout, Kerala 77.8% As Of 7 Pm
#ElectionsWithNDTV | A look at voter turnout till 7pm in Assam, Keralam and Puducherry#Datafy pic.twitter.com/Tzh4hOUYmm
— NDTV (@ndtv) April 9, 2026
Assembly Elections 2026 Live Updates: 84.4% voter turnout recorded till 5 PM in Assam, 75.0% in Keralam, and 86.9% in Puducherry
#ElectionsWithNDTV | 84.4% voter turnout recorded till 5 PM in Assam, 75.0% in Keralam, and 86.9% in Puducherry #KeralamElections #PuducherryElections #AssamElections #NDTVDatafy pic.twitter.com/5U2xf1WMvh
— NDTV (@ndtv) April 9, 2026
Kerala Election 2026 Voting LIVE: "No BJP Factor": Shashi Tharoor To NDTV As Kerala Goes To Polls
Having travelled extensively during the campaign, Shashi Tharoor said the momentum on the ground points clearly towards a change in government.
Puducherry Election 2026 Voting LIVE: Puducherry Congress State President and candidate from the Thattanchavady Assembly Constituency, V Vaithilingam casts his vote
"We are confident that we will form the government on 4 May," says Puducherry Congress State President V Vaithilingam
#WATCH | Puducherry: Congress State President and candidate from the Thattanchavady Assembly Constituency, V. Vaithilingam, cast his vote. pic.twitter.com/Q6EiYQ56Z4
— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2026
Assembly Elections 2026 Live Updates: 75.9% voter turnout recorded till 3 PM in Assam, 62.7% in Keralam, and 72.4% in Puducherry
#ElectionsWithNDTV | 75.9% voter turnout recorded till 3 PM in Assam, 62.7% in Keralam, and 72.4% in Puducherry #KeralamElections #PuducherryElections #AssamElections #NDTVDatafy pic.twitter.com/u2A8qyMLVl
— NDTV (@ndtv) April 9, 2026
Kerala Election 2026 Voting LIVE: Bride Casts Vote Before Wedding, Reaches Polling Booth In Bridal Attire
A bride in Kerala's Wayanad district chose democracy before her wedding, arriving at a polling booth in full bridal attire to cast her vote on Thursday morning.
Akhila Antony, a native of Meppadi, reached Booth Number 191 at the Government Higher Secondary School at 9am, dressed for her big day, capturing the attention of voters and officials alike.
With her wedding scheduled at 10:30 am at the CSI Church in Koyileri near Mananthavady, Akhila made it clear that voting was a priority. Despite the rush, polling officials and locals ensured she could cast her vote without delay.
Speaking after voting, she said she had decided in advance to exercise her franchise before heading to the ceremony, as returning later would not have been possible.
Assembly Elections 2026 Live Updates: Voter Turnout In Kerala Assam, Puducherry Till 1 PM
Assam has recorded a voter turnout of 59.6 per cent till 1 pm, and Kerala saw 47.3 per cent. Puducherry has recorded 56.8 per cent voter turnout.
Kerala Election 2026 Voting LIVE: CPM General Secretary Casts His Vote
CPM General Secretary MA Baby casts his vote in Thiruvananthapuram.
#WATCH | Keralam Assembly elections | CPM General Secretary MA Baby casts his vote in Thiruvananthapuram pic.twitter.com/ekC1AFppsu
— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2026
Kerala Election 2026 Voting LIVE: Shashi Tharoor On BJP Factor In Kerala, Anti-Incumbency
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor speaks to NDTV on the BJP factor in Kerala, anti-incumbency, and more.
As Keralam goes to polls today, NDTV's @radhika1705 speaks exclusively to Congress' Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) on BJP factor in Keralam, anti-incumbency, and more#NDTVExclusive pic.twitter.com/zAlHHzmYY2
— NDTV (@ndtv) April 9, 2026
Assam Election 2026 Voting LIVE: Zubeen Garg's Wife Casts Vote
Garima Garg, wife of renowned singer Zubeen Garg who died last year, cast her vote today at Dakhin Gaon High School polling station in Guwahati. Addressing the media, she expressed hope that the election process would ensure justice and reflect the will of the people.
Zubeen Garg's sister also appealed to voters to remain aware and responsible while exercising their democratic rights. "People should stay alert and be aware of what they are doing. If you want a good government of your choice, you must vote carefully," she said.
Assembly Elections 2026 Live Updates: Voter Turnout In Kerala Assam, Puducherry Till 11 AM
Assam Election 2026 Voting LIVE: Gaurav Gogoi Offers Floral Tribute To Father Tarun Gogoi
Assam Congress President and Congress candidate from Jorhat assembly constituency, Gaurav Gogoi, offers floral tributes to his father and former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
Karnataka Bypolls 2026: Voting Underway For Karnataka Bypolls In Bagalkot And Davanagere South
Voting was underway for bypolls to two Assembly segments--Bagalkot and Davanagere South in Karnataka on Thursday.
The polls were necessitated by the deaths of senior Congress MLAs HY Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa. Counting of votes will be taken up on May 4.
Although the outcome of these by-elections is unlikely to have an immediate impact on state politics, the contest is seen as a matter of prestige for both the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP.
While the Congress faces the challenge of retaining both seats, the BJP is aiming to wrest them and deliver a setback to the ruling party, which is currently witnessing an "internal power struggle" over leadership.
Assembly Elections 2026 Live Updates: People Voting In 2 States, Union Territory - Pictures
Assembly Elections 2026 Live Updates: Voter Turnout In Kerala Assam, Puducherry Till 9 AM
Kerala Election 2026 Voting LIVE: "Expecting Great Mandate For NDA," Says Minister
Kerala Minister George Kurian, shortly after casting vote, said they are expecting a "great mandate" for the NDA in the state.
"We are requesting people to vote in favour of NDA," he said.
Kerala Election 2026 Voting LIVE: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Casts His Vote
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has cast his vote at the Pinarayi RC Amala Basic Upper Primary School polling booth in Kannur.
#WATCH | Keralam CM Pinarayi Vijayan casts his vote in Assembly elections, at Pinarayi RC Amala Basic Upper Primary School in Kannur pic.twitter.com/yIVgSmzdPh
— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2026
Assam Assembly Polls 2026: In First Polls After Delimitation, BJP Hopes For Third Straight Term
The battle for 126 seats in Assam comes amid a bitter political row between the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress over the corruption allegations against Chief Minister Himanta Sarma. The BJP is expecting a third straight term in the state.
Puducherry Election 2026 Voting LIVE: Robot 'Nila' At Puducherry Polling Booth
Robot 'Nila', dressed in traditional attire, welcomes guests at Puducherry polling station.
Assembly Elections 2026 Live Updates: Leaders Arrive At Polling Booths To Cast Votes In Assam, Kerala, Puducherry - WATCH COVERAGE
Leaders arrive at polling booths to cast their votes, as voting begins in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry.
#ElectionsWithNDTV | Leaders arrive at polling booths to cast their votes, as voting begins in Assam, Keralam, and Puducherry
— NDTV (@ndtv) April 9, 2026
NDTV's @radhika1705 and @RatnadipC report from ground zero#AssemblyElections pic.twitter.com/7NQ3HdfFSo
Puducherry Election 2026 Voting LIVE: Robot 'Nila' Welcomes Voters At A Polling Booth
Robot Nila welcomes voters at the VOC Government School polling booth as they arrive to cast their votes.
#PuducherryElections | Robot Nila welcomes voters at the VOC Government School polling booth as they arrive to cast their votes
— NDTV (@ndtv) April 9, 2026
NDTV's @DharanVija47684 reports from ground zero#ElectionsWithNDTV #Robot pic.twitter.com/FlRcev4loD
Assam Election 2026 Voting LIVE: NDTV Ground Report
Voters form long queues to cast their vote at a polling station in Assam. Check NDTV's ground report:
#ElectionsWithNDTV | Voters form long queues to cast their vote at a polling station in Assam
— NDTV (@ndtv) April 9, 2026
NDTV's @MickyGupta84 brings you this ground report#AssamElections2026 pic.twitter.com/yPsAKFJswM
Assam Election 2026 Voting LIVE: Voters Show Their Inked Fingers
Voters show their inked finger after exercising their franchise at a polling station in Jalukbari assembly constituency.
Kerala Election 2026 Voting LIVE: Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar Arrives To Cast His Vote
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Kerala BJP President and candidate from Nemom, arrives to cast his vote. He is seen standing in a queue awaiting his turn at a polling station in Thiruvananthapuram.
#WATCH | Keralam Assembly Elections 2026 | Keralam BJP President and candidate from Nemom, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, stands in a queue as he awaits his turn to cast vote at a polling station in Thiruvananthapuram. pic.twitter.com/U5ewsWxzMw
— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2026
Puducherry Assembly Elections 2026: TVK To Play Spoiler For Congress-DMK As Puducherry Votes Today? 10 Points
The NDA is hoping for a second straight term in Puducherry, where 30 seats are up for election today. The pitch, though, has been queered by the entry of the fledgling TVK, which has set up multi-cornered contests in many seats.
The constituents of the ruling NDA in Puducherry are the AINRC (All India NR Congress), BJP, the AIADMK, and the LJK (Latchiya Jananayaka Katchi). The Opposition INDIA bloc includes the Congress, the DMK and the VCK.
The TVK, headed by actor-politician Vijay, has fielded two sitting MLAs. Sai J Saravanan Kumar was also a minister in the AINRC-BJP government. The party has also fielded former legislators in four other constituencies.
The statehood issue has gained traction in this election with the BJP rejecting Chief Minister N Rangasamy's demand for assurance on statehood and ejecting LJK from the NDA, citing that party chief Jose Charles Martin, son of lottery baron Santiago Martin, does not have roots in the former French colony.
Assam Election 2026 Voting LIVE: PM Modi Urges People Of Assam To Vote Today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post on X, said: "As polling begins for the Assam Assembly elections 2026, I appeal to the people of Assam to exercise their franchise in large numbers. I hope that the state's youth and women voters participate enthusiastically and make this election a celebration of democracy and public duty."
As polling begins for the Assam Assembly elections 2026, I appeal to the people of Assam to exercise their franchise in large numbers. I hope that the state’s youth and women voters participate enthusiastically and make this election a celebration of democracy and public duty.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 9, 2026
Puducherry Election 2026 Voting LIVE: PM Modi's Message For People Of Puducherry Ahead Of Polling
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the people of Puducherry to vote today.
"As the Puducherry Assembly elections commence, I urge every voter to come out and participate in record numbers. I especially appeal to our youth and to women voters to strengthen the process of democracy. Every vote matters in shaping the future of Puducherry," he wrote in a post on X.
As the Puducherry Assembly elections commence, I urge every voter to come out and participate in record numbers. I especially appeal to our youth and to women voters to strengthen the process of democracy. Every vote matters in shaping the future of Puducherry.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 9, 2026
Kerala Election 2026 Voting LIVE: PM Modi Urges People To Vote
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon the people of Kerala to vote in large numbers in the Assembly Elections today. "Record participation will add vigour to Keralam's democratic spirit. I particularly request the youth and women of the state to step forward and vote in large numbers," he wrote on X.
Calling upon the people of Keralam to vote in large numbers in the 2026 Assembly elections. Record participation will add vigour to Keralam’s democratic spirit. I particularly request the youth and women of the state to step forward and vote in large numbers.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 9, 2026
Assembly Elections 2026 Live Updates: Voting Begins In High-Stakes Assam, Kerala, Puducherry Today
Voting for the high-stakes polling in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry has kick-started today. While the BJP is seeking another win in Assam, Kerala's Left Front is aiming for a fifth straight term. In Puducherry, N Rangaswamy's AINRC is plotting a fourth win.
Kerala Election 2026 Voting LIVE: Kerala Minister Suresh Gopi Arrives At Polling Booth To Cast His Vote
Kerala minister Suresh Gopi arrived at a polling booth to cast his vote.
#WATCH | Guruvayur, Keralam: Union Minister Suresh Gopi arrives at Guruvayur Devaswom English Medium School in Guruvayur South Part booth number 137 to cast his vote. pic.twitter.com/1WEPeMNuJf
— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2026
Assam Election 2026 Voting LIVE: Mock Polling Underway At A Polling Station In Kamrup
A mock polling is underway at a polling station in Assam's Kamrup.
#WATCH | Assam: Mock polling underway at a polling station in Kamrup.
— ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2026
Polling will begin at 7 am. pic.twitter.com/OpbN59ll11
Assam Election 2026 Voting LIVE: Himanta Biswa Sarma Urges People To Vote In "Large Numbers"
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a post on X, urged people to vote today.
"Today, Assam votes and each voice matters, each vote matters in the path of building a better Assam. On the occasion of this festival of democracy, I urge everyone to come out and #Vote in large numbers to strengthen democracy and take Assam to new height," he said.
Today, Assam votes and each voice matters, each vote matters in the path of building a better Assam.
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 9, 2026
On the occasion of this festival of democracy, I urge everyone to come out and #Vote in large numbers to strengthen democracy and take Assam to new heights.#AssamElections2026 pic.twitter.com/ueAYgakH5j
Assembly Elections 2026 Live Updates: Assam, Kerala, Puducherry Go To Polls Today In High-Stakes Battle
The stage is set for high-stakes polling in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry today, with voting kicking off at 7 am. While the BJP is seeking another win in Assam, Kerala's Left Front is aiming for a fifth straight term. In Puducherry, N Rangaswamy's AINRC is plotting a fourth win.
The voting will be held for 126 seats in Assam, 140 in Kerala, and 30 in Puducherry in this phase of the election. The results will be declared on May 4.
