West Bengal Election Date Announcement: Why Bengal Is Voting In 2 Phases Instead Of 8 Like Last Time

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday ducked questions on the opposition's notice to move a motion in Parliament for his removal from the post. At a press conference held to announce Assembly election schedules in four states and a Union Territory, Kumar did not answer questions on the opposition notice.

While the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) can be removed only by Parliament, Election Commissioners can be removed through a recommendation by the CEC to the President.

In a first, the opposition has submitted notices in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha seeking to move a motion to remove Kumar from the post, alleging a partisan attitude.

The opposition parties accused the Chief Election Commissioner of aiding the ruling BJP on several occasions, especially during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which they alleged was aimed at helping the saffron party at the Centre.

The process for removing the Chief Election Commissioner is similar to that for the removal of a Supreme Court or a high court judge, meaning an impeachment can be effected only on the ground of "proven misbehaviour or incapacity".

On the announcement of dates of polls in 5 states/UTs, West Bengal Congress President Suvankar Sarkar, told news agency ANI, "Whether it's one phase or two, the Congress's only stance is that the names of valid voters should not be removed from the voter list... Our sole demand is that the 6 million names under consideration before April 23 should be clarified... Only after this is clarified can this election become a festival. The Election Commission, in today's press conference, stated that this is an electoral festival—how can it be a festival? I am a valid voter, but my name is not in the voter list... My demand from the Election Commission is that the names of valid voters be included in the voter list..."

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 15 Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and 10 of his cabinet colleagues will contest in the April 9 state assembly election, the ruling CPI(M) said here on Sunday.

While Vijayan will seek his mandate from his sitting seat Dharmadam assembly segment in northern Kannur district, senior leader and former health minister K K Shailaja will try her luck from Peravoor constituency in Kannur.

CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan released the list of 81 candidates, including six party-backed independents during a press conference here.

The CPI(M)-led LDF is eyeing a third consecutive term this time.

On the upcoming Assembly elections in the state, CPI(M) State Secretary MV Govindan said, "CPI(M) will contest in 86 seats. 56 sitting MLAs will contest again. The PB meeting decided that one member from the PB should contest in the election. PB member and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will contest in the election. CPI(M) candidates were selected in a completely democratic manner."

The Election Commission of India on Sunday announced the schedule for assembly elections in four states and one Union Territory. The Model Code of Conduct came into immediate effect across all five regions following the announcement.

The Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday announced its first list of 14 candidates, including its state vice-president Anurupa Dekaraja, for the Assam assembly elections to be held on April 9.

All the constituencies included on the list are located in the Brahmaputra valley.

Dekaraja will contest from the Guwahati Central seat and Renuka Timungpi from Bokajan.

Among other candidates named on the list, issued by AAP state prabhari Rajesh Sarma, are Achyut Das (Naoboicha), Tapan Gogoi (Sivasagar), Zahidul Islam Khan (Chenga), Ranjeet Boro (Nadua), Pallav Saikia (Titabor) and Jinna Amir Hussain (East Goalpara).

The AAP, which is yet to open its account in the Assam assembly, will be contesting the polls in Assam without an alliance with any other opposition party.

Election Commission announced by-elections for 8 constituencies, spread across Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tripura. The by-elections in Gujarat and Maharashtra will be held on April 23, while the rest will be held on April 9. For the by polls also, the results will be declared on the same day as the Assembly polls, May 4.

Election Commission announced by-elections for 8 constituencies, spread across Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tripura. The by-elections in Gujarat and Maharashtra will be held on April 23, while the rest will be held on April 9. For the by polls also, the results will be declared on the same day as the Assembly polls, May 4.

Bengal voted in eight phases during the 2021 Assembly polls, held amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The first phase of polling took place on March 27, and the last on April 29. Leaders of several political parties, it is learnt, told the Election Commission officials this time that the polls should be held in two or three phases. They told the officials that a prolonged schedule jacks up election expenses and also reduces public spirit about the voting exercise.

One rationale behind holding polls in multiple phases is that this makes the deployment of central forces easier. Bengal has witnessed incidents of political violence and loss of lives during earlier elections. But this time, parties have argued that a large number of central forces are already stationed in the state, making a prolonged election unnecessary. Click here to read more

Election Commission announced on Sunday that the counting of votes for all 834 constituencies across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal and Puducherry will be on May 4.

Kerala, which was recently rechristened as Keralam, will vote in a single phase on April 9. The votes for the 140-member assembly will be counted on May 4.

The Election Commission of India announced on Sunday the schedule for assembly elections in four states and one Union Territory: West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.

The Election Commission of India on Sunday announced that the Assam Legislative Assembly polls will be held on April 9, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4.

The high-voltage election in West Bengal will be held in two phases, on April 23 and April 29, and the counting of votes will take place on May 4

Tamil Nadu to vote in a single phase on  April 23 results on May 4.

West Bengal to vote in two phases on  April 23 and April 29, results on May 4.

Kerala, Assam and Puducherry to vote in a single phase on April 9, results on May 4.

"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.

"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.

"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.

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"

"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.

"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.

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 !
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

— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) March 15, 2026

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.

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.
At the same time, all fresh…

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 15, 2026

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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, and Puducherry went to the polls in a single phase in their last assembly polls.

Assam, in the last assembly elections, had voted in three 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.

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.

Polls are due in West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry. The terms of these legislative assemblies are ending in May and June.

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.