Voters in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry head to the polls on April 9, 2026, in a single phase for their assemblies. Assam's 126 seats see the BJP eyeing a third term, while Kerala's 140 constituencies pit the LDF against UDF and NDA. Puducherry's 30 seats feature a contest between the ruling NDA coalition and opposition.
Assam, Kerala and Puducherry are voting in high-stakes assembly elections on April 9, 2026. In Assam, 722 candidates including Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma are contesting 126 seats. Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goyal said 31,940 polling stations have been set up across 35 districts with over 1.5 lakh security personnel deployed. Around 2.5 crore voters, including 1.25 crore women, are eligible to cast votes from 7 a.m.
Kerala's 140 constituencies see a three-way contest among 883 candidates. Election Commission data shows 2.71 crore voters, comprising 1.32 crore men, 1.39 crore women and 273 transgender persons. Polling runs from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The ruling LDF seeks a third term, the UDF aims for a comeback and the NDA hopes to win its first seats.
In Puducherry, 9.50 lakh voters will decide the fate of 294 candidates across 30 seats in Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. CEO P. Jawahar stated there are 1,099 polling stations, with 209 marked sensitive. Arrangements include 30 all-women booths, 15 youth-officer run and two staffed by disabled employees. Chief Minister N. Rangasamy is among key contenders.
Counting is scheduled for May 4. Delegates from 23 countries, totalling 43 observers, are monitoring the process.
