Assembly Elections 2026 Update: Voting commenced at 7:00 AM today in the states of Assam and Kerala, as well as in the Union Territory of Puducherry. The Election Commission has made arrangements to ensure free, fair, and smooth voting. Voters were seen queuing outside polling stations to cast their ballots in these assembly elections, which are being held in a single phase. In this phase of the elections, voting will take place for 126 seats in Assam, 140 seats in Kerala, and 30 seats in Puducherry. Voting in Tamil Nadu is scheduled for April 23, while in West Bengal, it will take place on April 23 and April 29. The counting of votes will be held on May 4.
PM Modi appeals to the public: Exercise your right to vote
Appealing to the public, PM Modi urged them to exercise their franchise in large numbers.
২০২৬ চনৰ অসম বিধানসভা নিৰ্বাচনৰ ভোটদান প্ৰক্ৰিয়া আৰম্ভ হোৱাৰ পৰিপ্ৰেক্ষিতত, মই অসমৰ জনসাধাৰণক বিপুল সংখ্যাত নিজৰ ভোটাধিকাৰ সাব্যস্ত কৰিবলৈ আহ্বান জনাইছো। মই আশা কৰো যে ৰাজ্যখনৰ যুৱক-যুৱতী আৰু মহিলা ভোটাৰসকলে উৎসাহেৰে অংশগ্ৰহণ কৰি এই নিৰ্বাচনক গণতন্ত্ৰ আৰু নাগৰিক কৰ্তব্যৰ এক উৎসৱ…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 9, 2026
Assam Assembly Election 2026: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Appeals to the Public
As voting for the assembly elections commenced, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urged voters in Kerala and Assam to turn out in large numbers to support change. She asserted that the people of the states deserve a government that priorities public welfare over power and corruption, and sought a mandate for change.
Kerala Election 2026: LDF candidate V. Sivankutty casts his vote
In Kerala, Minister and LDF candidate from Nemom, V. Sivankutty, cast his vote at a polling booth located in Mudavanmugal, Thiruvananthapuram.
In the Union Territory of Puducherry, voters are steadily arriving at polling stations to elect representatives for the 30-member Legislative Assembly. Voting commenced at 7:00 AM on Thursday across 1,099 polling stations and will continue until 6:00 PM.
Former Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy cast his vote in the Puducherry Assembly elections. After voting, V. Narayanasamy stated, “I exercised my democratic right by standing in line at the polling station. Casting a vote is the duty of every citizen of India. The situation in Puducherry is very favorable for the INDIA alliance.”
Heavy Security, High Enthusiasm as Puducherry Votes amid Fierce Political Contest
This election holds significance as the Union Territory is currently governed by an alliance led by the All India N.R. Congress with N. Rangasamy serving as Chief Minister—which enjoys the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
A fierce contest for power is expected among all major political parties. Chief Electoral Officer P. Jawahar stated that the administration has made extensive preparations to ensure a free and fair election. Puducherry Collector A. Kulothungan remarked, “People are turning out to vote with great enthusiasm. It is heartening to see such a large number of voters arriving, even in the early hours of the morning. All mock polls at the polling stations were successfully completed on Thursday morning.”
To maintain law and order, a total of 4,836 polling personnel have been deployed, supported by 2,791 police personnel and 30 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
Assembly Elections 2026 Update
Security arrangements have been heightened, particularly in sensitive areas. A total of 209 polling stations have been declared ‘sensitive’ and five as ‘critical’ (highly sensitive). These locations are under strict surveillance, and micro-observers along with CAPF personnel have been deployed to maintain a close watch.
Approximately 2,000 student volunteers have been stationed at polling stations to assist senior citizens and persons with disabilities, thereby ensuring inclusive participation in the democratic process.
Puducherry Votes under Tight Security; Strong Turnout expected
Prior to the voting, enforcement teams maintained strict vigilance in accordance with the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). During the campaign period, officials seized suspicious assets worth approximately ₹8.4 crore. This included gold and other precious metals valued at ₹6.7 crore, ₹77 lakh in cash, and liquor worth ₹68 lakh figures that underscore the effectiveness of the robust surveillance mechanism in place.
Despite the conclusion of campaigning on Tuesday evening, surveillance teams continued their operations to prevent any potential violations. Election officials stated that all necessary arrangements had been made to enable voters to exercise their franchise without any difficulty.
Given that the 2021 Assembly elections recorded a voter turnout exceeding 82 percent, officials expressed optimism that participation in the current polls could surpass previous elections, thereby reflecting strong public engagement in the electoral process.
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