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Election 2026 Highlights: TMC has destroyed Bengal with its 'cut-money' politics, says Amit Shah at rally in Debra
Polling began early today, in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry, bringing over 5.3 crore voters to thousands of booths to decide the fate of governments in two states and one union territory. The single-phase elections will cover 140 seats in Kerala, 126 in Assam, and 30 in Puducherry, with polling scheduled from 7 am to evening. Extensive security measures, webcasting, and logistical arrangements have been put in place to ensure smooth conduct.
In Assam, the contest is primarily bipolar, with the BJP-led NDA seeking a third consecutive term under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The Congress-led opposition, led by Gaurav Gogoi, hopes to reclaim power after a decade, while regional players such as AIUDF, Raijor Dal, and Assam Jatiya Parishad may influence outcomes in select constituencies. The state has around 2.5 crore voters, including over 1.25 crore women, first-time voters, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, casting their ballots across 31,490 polling stations.
Kerala’s 140 constituencies feature a battle between continuity and comeback. The Left Democratic Front, led by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, seeks a rare third consecutive term, challenging the Congress-led United Democratic Front, which is campaigning on anti-incumbency, governance concerns, and past electoral setbacks. The BJP-led NDA is also attempting to convert incremental gains into a stronger assembly presence. The electorate of 2.71 crore, with women forming a majority, will decide the state’s political future.
In Puducherry, a multi-cornered fight unfolds among the NDA, Congress-DMK bloc, and actor Vijay’s newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. Around 9.5 lakh voters will choose from 294 candidates across 1,099 polling stations in Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam. Special arrangements for senior citizens and differently-abled voters, drone surveillance, and enhanced security have been deployed to ensure a smooth voting process. The verdict for all three regions will be announced on May 4, alongside results from West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
Polling began at 7 am and will continue until 5 pm, with long queues visible from early morning. Around 2.5 crore voters, including 1.25 crore women, are eligible to vote across 31,490 polling stations.
Key candidates include chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal. Several other party leaders and independents are also contesting.
"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," the Prime Minsiter wrote in another post.
"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 added.
The row follows allegations by Congress leader Pawan Khera against Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his wife, which they have strongly denied. Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, has filed an FIR, and Assam Police recently searched Khera’s residence.
Khera had claimed undisclosed assets and multiple passports, while Sarma accused Congress of deception, saying fabricated documents had already been exposed and warning of political consequences.
Puducherry assembly elections 2026: The AINRC–BJP-led NDA, headed by chief minister N Rangasamy, faces a tough fight against the Congress–DMK alliance in Puducherry’s 33-member assembly. Voting is on April 9, with counting on May 4.
The spotlight is on Thattanchavady, where Rangasamy faces former CM V Vaithilingam. Key issues include the long-pending statehood demand, high unemployment, and water contamination in Puducherry district, which holds 23 of 30 seats.
A wildcard is Vijay’s TVK, whose popularity could sway results. High-profile leaders from both alliances are campaigning intensely as a tight contest looms.
Assam assembly elections 2026: A total of 722 candidates are contesting the Assam elections, including key political figures and a large number of Independents. The Congress has fielded the highest number of candidates at 99, followed by the BJP with 90. Among other players, AIUDF has 30 candidates, while NDA allies AGP and BPF are contesting 26 and 11 seats respectively. The presence of multiple parties, including AAP, TMC, UPPL and others, ensures that several constituencies will witness triangular or multi-cornered contests.
Kerala assembly elections 2026: Congress alleged that Sobha Surendran, the BJP candidate of the Palakkad constituency in Kerala, was "caught red-handed distributing" cash to voters ahead of April 9 elections to the state assembly.
Surendran denied the allegations, calling them "fabricated" to defeat her.
She alleged that a local Congress leader and a journalist of a TV channel were behind the allegations, and she would be filing a police case against them.
The BJP leader claimed that a video aired on TV channels, showing some women "offering something" to an elderly woman in her constituency, was wrongly projected by the Congress and the journalist to allege that she offered money for votes.
Visuals aired on TV channels show a woman offering something to the elderly woman, and thereafter, another group goes to her and opens her hand to reveal a small roll of Rs 500 currency notes.
Based on the video, it was alleged that the elderly woman was given money by someone in the BJP candidate's campaign team.
However, the elderly woman denied having received any money, but admitted to having asked for Rs 5,000 for buying medicines.
Around 9.50 lakh voters will decide the electoral fate of 294 candidates in the Assembly elections in Puducherry on April 9 and all arrangements have been made for smooth conduct of polls, CEO P Jawahar said here on Wednesday. The polling will begin at 7 am in Puducherry and its enclaves of Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam which together have 30 Assembly seats.
The union territory has 1,099 polling stations and of them 209 have been identified as vulnerable, Jawahar told media here. Thirty polling stations would be managed exclusively by women staff and 15 booths would be operated by young officers.
Two polling stations would be operated by persons with disabilities, he added. The union territory has as many as 24,919 new voters, he said. The Chief Electoral Officer said senior citizens and differently-abled voters would be assisted by volunteers at the booths to reach the polling stations to cast their votes and also for their safe return to their homes. Wheelchairs will be available. The election authorities have engaged 2,200 young voters to take care of them, he said. Jawahar said that deployment of drones for monitoring purposes had been of help to track persons indulging in activities that tarnished fair polls.
He said cash and liquor were seized after drone surveillance was conducted. A total of Rs 77.25 lakh was seized at various points and liquor worth Rs 68.50 lakh was also seized. Seventeen cases were booked for alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct during the past few weeks. As many as 24 persons were booked for allegedly distributing cash to lure the voters, he said.
Assam assembly elections 2026: Polling will be held across Assam’s 126 assembly constituencies in a high-stakes contest that pits the BJP-led NDA against a Congress-led opposition alliance. The BJP is seeking a third consecutive term in power, while the Congress is aiming to reclaim the state it lost in 2016. With most constituencies witnessing direct contests, the election is expected to hinge on narrow margins. Regional parties, however, could play a crucial role in select seats, adding layers to what is otherwise a largely bipolar battle.
Kerala is all set for a crucial Assembly election on Thursday, with 2.71 crore voters poised to cast their franchise in a decisive contest that will test the ruling LDF's bid for a third consecutive term, the opposition UDF's comeback prospects, and the NDA's push to open its account in the state.
After nearly a month of intense campaigning, the southern state will go to the polls in a single phase, with voting to be held from 7 am to 6 pm across all 140 constituencies where 883 candidates are in the fray.
The electorate comprises 1.32 crore men, 1.39 crore women and 273 transgender persons, along with over 2.42 lakh overseas voters, underlining the scale of the electoral exercise, according to Election Commission figures.
The contest, though triangular, is rooted in Kerala's traditionally bipolar political landscape, where power has largely alternated between the LDF and the UDF.
The outcome of this election will indicate whether that pattern holds or if the state is headed towards a shift.
Assembly Election 2026 Live Updates: Each region presents a different political contest. Assam is witnessing a largely bipolar fight between the BJP-led NDA and a Congress-led alliance. In Kerala, the ruling LDF is seeking a rare third consecutive term against the Congress-led UDF, while the BJP-led NDA is aiming to expand its presence. Puducherry, meanwhile, is seeing a multi-cornered contest involving the NDA, Congress-DMK alliance and actor Vijay’s newly formed party, adding an unpredictable dimension to the race.
Election authorities have deployed thousands of personnel and central armed police forces across all three regions to ensure free and fair polling. Webcasting has been enabled at polling stations, and drones, flying squads and control rooms are monitoring the process in real time. Vulnerable polling stations, particularly in Puducherry and Assam, are under enhanced surveillance. Officials said multi-layered security arrangements and strict enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct are in place throughout the polling process.
More than 5.3 crore voters are eligible to cast their ballots across the two states and one union territory. Kerala alone accounts for over 2.7 crore voters, while Assam has around 2.5 crore electors and Puducherry over 10 lakh. The electorate includes a significant number of women voters, youth, senior citizens and persons with disabilities. First-time voters are also expected to play a key role in shaping the outcome of these closely watched elections.
Polling will be held across Assam, Kerala and Puducherry, with voters turning up early at booths for a high-stakes electoral exercise. Voting started at 7 am and will continue through the day under tight security and monitoring. The elections cover 126 seats in Assam, 140 in Kerala and 30 in Puducherry. Authorities have put in place elaborate arrangements, including webcasting, sector officers and central forces deployment, to ensure smooth and peaceful polling across all regions.
Polling continued till evening yesterday, with extensive security, webcasting, and logistical arrangements in place to ensure smooth conduct. This election marks a crucial political test for both regional and national parties.
In Assam, the 126-seat assembly sees a largely bipolar contest between the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance and a Congress-led opposition front. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma seeks a third consecutive term, while the Congress, led by Gaurav Gogoi, aims for a comeback. Regional players such as the AIUDF, Raijor Dal, and Assam Jatiya Parishad could impact margins in key constituencies. Around 2.5 crore voters, including first-time voters, women, and senior citizens, are expected to cast their ballots across 31,490 polling stations.
Kerala’s 140 constituencies face a contest between continuity and comeback. The Left Democratic Front, led by Pinarayi Vijayan, seeks a rare third consecutive term, while the Congress-led United Democratic Front is targeting anti-incumbency and governance concerns. The BJP-led NDA is attempting to expand its foothold. Over 2.71 crore voters, including a female-majority electorate, will decide the outcome.
Puducherry’s 30-seat assembly election is more fragmented, with the NDA, Congress-DMK bloc, and actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam in the fray. Around 9.5 lakh voters will select from 294 candidates. Special arrangements have been made for senior citizens and differently-abled voters. Results for all three regions will be declared on May 4, alongside West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
