2026 Assembly Elections India: Phase 1 Polling Completed

New Delhi, April 11, 2026 – The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for the 2026 Assembly Elections India on March 15, 2026, covering 824 seats across four states (Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal) and the Union Territory of Puducherry. Approximately 17.4 crore voters are eligible to decide the next governments. The Model Code of Conduct came into force immediately after the announcement.

Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls – Fully Completed

Before the polls, the ECI carried out the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) across 12 states and three Union Territories, including all poll-bound ones. The exercise, which began in late 2025, involved house-to-house verification to remove duplicates, deceased persons, permanently shifted/migrated voters, and ineligible entries. Draft rolls were published, followed by a claims-and-objections window. Final electoral rolls were notified before polling began.

Overall SIR impact (as of early 2026 final data across nine states and three UTs): Nearly 6.5 crore names were deleted — a significant cleanup to prevent bogus voting. In the poll-bound states, deletions were notable:

West Bengal: Nearly 91 lakh names removed (≈11.6% reduction, from ~7.66 crore to ~6.75 crore).
Kerala: Over 22 lakh names deleted.
Assam: Around 10 lakh deletions.
Tamil Nadu and Puducherry also saw proportionate reductions due to migration, deaths, and duplicates.

Opposition parties in West Bengal and Assam raised concerns over possible disenfranchisement of minority and migrant voters, but the ECI maintained that the SIR was a routine, transparent exercise with judicial oversight for flagged cases.

Chronological Order of 2026 Assembly Elections

Phase 1: April 9, 2026 (Single Phase – Assam, Kerala, Puducherry)

Status: Polling Completed (as of April 11, 2026).
High voter turnout was reported across all three:

Puducherry: 89.83% (highest-ever).
Assam: 85.38%.
Kerala: 78.03%.

Women and young voters turned out in large numbers. Final official turnout figures will be released by the ECI soon.

State-wise Details (Last Election & Current Scenario)

Assam (126 seats): Last held in March–April 2021. BJP-led NDA won consecutive term; Himanta Biswa Sarma became Chief Minister. Current incumbent: BJP-led NDA (CM Himanta Biswa Sarma). Main opposition: Mahajot (INC-led).

Kerala (140 seats): Last held on April 6, 2021. Left Democratic Front (LDF, CPI(M)-led) secured historic back-to-back victory; Pinarayi Vijayan re-elected as Chief Minister. Current incumbent: LDF (CM Pinarayi Vijayan). Main opposition: United Democratic Front (UDF, INC-led).

Puducherry (30 seats): Last held on April 6, 2021. NDA (AINRC + BJP) won majority; N. Rangaswamy (AINRC) sworn in as Chief Minister for the fourth time. Current incumbent: NDA (CM N. Rangaswamy). Main opposition: Congress-DMK alliance.

Phase 2: April 23, 2026 (Tamil Nadu – Single Phase + West Bengal Phase 1)

Tamil Nadu (234 seats): Last election April 6, 2021. DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance won decisively (159 seats); M.K. Stalin became Chief Minister. Current incumbent: DMK-led SPA (CM M.K. Stalin). Main opposition: AIADMK (NDA-aligned in some contexts).

West Bengal (294 seats – Phase 1: 152 seats): Last election March–April 2021. TMC won landslide (213 seats); Mamata Banerjee retained power as Chief Minister. Current incumbent: TMC (CM Mamata Banerjee). Main opposition: BJP (77 seats in 2021).

Phase 3: April 29, 2026 (West Bengal Phase 2 – 142 seats)

This will complete polling in West Bengal. Results Date for All 2026 Assembly Elections India

Counting of votes for all phases and all states/UT is scheduled for a single day — May 4, 2026. Results will be declared simultaneously, shaping the political map of eastern and southern India for the next five years.

These 2026 Assembly Elections India are being watched closely as a major litmus test for national and regional parties ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha polls. The extensive SIR exercise has been one of the biggest pre-poll talking points, ensuring cleaner voter lists while triggering debates on inclusivity.

Tattvam News Today will bring you live updates, seat-wise analysis, and post-poll scenarios as the remaining phases unfold. Stay tuned for the latest on the 2026 Assembly Elections India.

The complete official schedule was announced by the Election Commission of India through its Press Note dated 15 March 2026. Read the full ECI Notification here.

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Election Commission to Launch First Phase of Pan-India Special Intensive Revision of Voter List

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2026 Assembly Elections: Phase 1 Polling Completed – Full Chronological Schedule, SIR Updates & Results Date