Election 2026 Date Announcement LIVE: The Election Commission of India (ECI) will today announce dates for assembly polls in five states. Polls are due in West Bengal, Keralam (formerly Kerala), Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry.
The poll authority has convened a press conference at 4 pm to announce the schedule.
The terms of these legislative assemblies are ending in May and June.
Here are the LIVE Updates from Election Commission Poll 2026 Date Announcement:
Election 2026 Date Announcement LIVE: Tamil Nadu To Vote In A Single Phase On 23 April
Tamil Nadu to vote in a single phase on April 23 and April 29, results on May 4.
Election 2026 Date Announcement LIVE: West Bengal To Vote In Two Phases On April 23, April 29
West Bengal to vote in two phases on April 23 and April 29, results on May 4.
Election 2026 Date Announcement LIVE: Kerala, Assam And Puducherry To Vote On 9 April
Kerala, Assam and Puducherry to vote in a single phase on April 9, results on May 4.
Election 2026 Date Announcement LIVE: No Eligible Voter Shall Be Excluded, No Ineligible Person Will Be Included, Says Gyanesh Kumar
"In accordance with Article 326 of the Constitution, no eligible voter shall be excluded while at the same time, no ineligible person should be included," says Gyanesh Kumar.
Election 2026 Date Announcement LIVE: Poll Body Committed To Ensure Pleasant Voting Experience
"The Election Commission has issued directions that in every polling stations, there shall be provisions for drinking water, toilets, signages, ramps, wheelchairs with volunteers, help desks, water facilitation centers, sufficient lighting inside the voting compartment with adequate shade, shall be there in all the polling stations. Special care shall be taken for all our respected senior citizens," says Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Election 2026 Date Announcement LIVE: 2.18 Lakh Polling Stations, Including 80 Thousand In West Bengal To Be Set Up
Election 2026 Date Announcement LIVE: Committed To Ensuring Free, Fair, Transparent Elections, Says Gyanesh Kumar
"The Commission, along with lakhs of election officials and security personnel, is committed to ensuring free, fair, transparent, accessible and peaceful elections," says Poll Body Chief Gyanesh Kumar.
Election 2026 Date Announcement LIVE: Poll Body Chief's Appeal To Youth
Appealing specifically to youth and first time voters, Election Commission Chief said, "You are about to step into one of the most important responsibilities of your life - right to vote. Urge you to participate enthusiastically. Your vote is your choice in shaping the future"
Election 2026 Date Announcement LIVE: 17.4 Crore Electors To Vote In This Elections
"The elections represent the cultural richness of polls and reflect unity and diversity of our nation. Around 17.4 crore electors are going to vote in this elections. We will also see our guests from more than 20 countries from their electoral commissions who will be visiting these elections for witnessing the festive celebrations," Gyanesh Kumar said.
Election 2026 Date Announcement LIVE: Poll Body Visited All Poll-Bound States, Says Gyanesh Kumar
"Commission visted all poll-bound states. During these vists, the commission met recognised parties and received their suggestions and also met ditrict electoral officers, SP, and nodal officers of all enforcement agencies. Commission felicitated the BLOs," says Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Election 2026 Date Announcement LIVE: Poll Body To Announce Election Dates For 4 States, Puducherry
Mamata Banerjee vs Suvendu Adhikari Ahead Of Election Date Announcement
West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari took aim at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee saying she remembered employees, pensioners minutes before the poll body's election date announcement.
What a JOKE !
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) March 15, 2026
Mamata Banerjee suddenly remembers lakhs of employees, pensioners, teachers and non-teaching staff just MINUTES before the Election Commission announces poll dates?
ROPA 2009 DA arrears “from March 2026 onwards”? After years of looting the state treasury and… https://t.co/RIoiiP8Sgt
Mamata Banerjee Announces DA Hike For Bengal Government Employees
Mamata Banerjee has announced DA arrears for Bengal government staff due since 2009.
"I am happy to announce that our Ma-Mati-Manush government has delivered on its promise to all its employees and pensioners, and to lakhs of teachers and non-teaching staff of our educational institutions, as well as employees/ pensioners of our other grant-in-aid instititions like panchayats, municipal bodies, other local bodies etc. They will start receiving their ROPA 2009 DA arrears from March 2026 onwards as per the modalities detailed out in the Notifications issued by our Finance Department," she wrote on X.
Mamata Banerjee's Big Move Before Poll Dates Announcement
Hours before the scheduled announcement of assembly polls, Mamata Banerjee has hiked the monthly honorarium for purohits and muezzins by Rs 500.
"We take pride in nurturing an environment where every community and every tradition is valued and strengthened. Our endeavour remains to ensure that the custodians of our rich spiritual heritage receive the recognition and support they deserve," she posted on X.
I am pleased to announce an increase of ₹500 in the monthly honorariums extended to our purohits and muezzins, whose service sustains the spiritual and social life of our communities. With this revision, they will now receive ₹2,000 per month.
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 15, 2026
At the same time, all fresh…
'Not Targeted At Any Community': BJP's Assam Poll In-Charge Baijayant Jay Panda On Evictions
BJP's Assam poll in-charge Baijayant Panda has called illegal immigration an "assault on Assamese culture".
Speaking with NDTV's Padmaja Joshi and Ankit Tyagi at 'The Great Brahmaputra Dialogue', Panda said, "The reality is, Assam has faced the kind of invasion, and I won't use a softer word; I will call it invasion, that no other state in the country has seen, that I don't believe any other country in the world has seen."
The BJP's trusted election strategist, who was behind the party's poll victory in the 2021 assembly elections, downplayed the opposition charge. "The reality is, if the vast majority of illegal occupants and illegal land grabbers belong to a certain background, obviously, they will be the ones who will be evicted. But it is not targeted at any community; it is targeted at implementing the law of the land."
Kerala Polls: Congress To Announce Candidates After Poll Notification
Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan has said the Congress will announce its candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections in different phases soon after the poll notification is issued.
Speaking to reporters in Kochi, Satheesan said there are no differences with UDF allies over seat-sharing.
"Since there was uncertainty over the election announcement, all parties decided to delay the candidate announcement. Once the election is declared, the candidates will be announced in different phases," he said.
He said seat sharing with UDF allies could be finalised in a short meeting.
"The seat-sharing matter is in the final stage and there are no issues between the allies. If any seat exchange is required, discussions will be held," he said.
Puducherry Elections: N Rangasamy Eyeing Third Term
In Puducherry, the All India NR Congress and Chief Minister N Rangasamy are eyeing a third term in power, while the opposition DMK is pushing for change.
Can Himanta Biswa Sarma Get 2nd Term In Assam?
In Assam, the gateway to the Northeast, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is eyeing a second term in power, while the Congress is hoping for a breakthrough.
The opposition, led by state Congress chief and senior party leader Gaurav Gogoi, has seen some major exits over the past couple of months, including that of former state president Bhupen Borah.
Left vs Congress Battle In Kerala
In Keralam, formerly Kerala, there is a Left vs Congress battle.
The state, known to change the ruling party every election, has already given two consecutive terms to CPM veteran Pinarayi Vijayan. The Congress is emboldened by the results of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, but its poll efforts can succeed only if it can keep infighting in check.
Election Date 2026: Can MK Stalin Get 2nd Term?
In Tamil Nadu, DMK's MK Stalin is eyeing a second term in power.
In the opposition, the AIADMK and BJP have tied up to retain the power. Actor-politician Vijay, who has entered the political arena with his party TVK, is also in the fight.
West Bengal Election Date 2026: Mamata Banerjee Eyeing 4th Straight Term
In West Bengal, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is eyeing a fourth consecutive term in power.
The TMC had swept the 2021 assembly elections with 213 seats in the 294-member House.
Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry Voted In Single Phase In Last Elections
Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry went to the polls in a single phase in their last assembly polls.
Election 2026 Date Announcement LIVE: Assam Voted In 3 Phases In Last Polls
Assam, in the last assembly elections, had voted in three phases.
ECI Press Conference LIVE: Bengal Polls May Be Conducted Over 3-4 Phases
In West Bengal, the polls may be conducted over 3-4 phases, according to sources.
During the 2021 Assembly polls, voting in Bengal was held over eight phases.
Election 2026 LIVE: Except Bengal, Polls In All States May Be Held In One Phase
According to sources in the Election Commission, elections are likely to be held in a single phase in all states, except Bengal, which makes headlines for political violence in every election.
Elections 2026: Polls Due In Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Puducherry
Polls are due in West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry. The terms of these legislative assemblies are ending in May and June.
Election Dates Live Updates: Election Dates For 5 States To Be Announced Today
The Election Commission will today announce dates for assembly polls in five states. The poll authority has convened a press conference at 4 pm to announce the schedule.
