New Delhi, March 15: The Election Commission announced crucial details regarding the upcoming assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and the Union Territory of Puducherry during a press conference on Sunday. Elections in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry will take place in a single phase on April 9, while West Bengal will conduct voting in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Tamil Nadu will also hold elections in a single phase on April 23. The results for all these states and the union territory will be declared on May 4.
With the announcement of elections in these five states and one union territory, the Model Code of Conduct has come into immediate effect.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar stated that the commission has reviewed preparations in all electoral states over the past few days, engaging with political parties, officials, and voters.
He emphasized that the commission’s team visited these states to assess the election preparations, meeting with all political parties to gather their suggestions. Detailed discussions were also held with officials from enforcement agencies, district election officers, police officials, state election officers, and police directors general.
Kumar noted that the commission has also interacted with youth and first-time voters. Additionally, the work of Booth Level Officers (BLOs), who play a crucial role in facilitating the election process, was commended.
He remarked, “These five states and the union territory are geographically and culturally distinct. To ensure fair and transparent elections, a Special Intensive Review (SIR) was conducted to ensure that no eligible voter is deprived of voting and no ineligible person is included in the voter list.”
Kumar added, “A clean voter list is the soul of democracy. Therefore, we have launched special campaigns to ensure that all eligible voters are included in the list.”
He made a special appeal to the youth, urging them to exercise their voting rights with pride and responsibility. “I want to tell the youth that you are about to take on a very important responsibility—the right to vote. Use your vote with pride and responsibility. Your vote is your voice. The festival of elections is a matter of pride for all of us.”
According to the Election Commission, a total of 174 million voters will exercise their voting rights in these five states and one union territory, a number equivalent to the total population of several countries, including Australia, France, South Africa, Germany, and Canada.
The Chief Election Commissioner reported that voting will take place for 824 assembly seats, with 219,000 polling stations established for the election process. Around 2.5 million election officials and staff will be deployed to ensure the elections are conducted fairly and smoothly.
Comprehensive security arrangements have also been made, with approximately 850,000 security personnel to be deployed during the elections to ensure a peaceful and secure voting environment.
The commission shared the number of voters by state, indicating that West Bengal has a total of 64.4 million voters, while approximately 25 million voters will participate in Assam.
Special arrangements will also be made during the elections, including the establishment of pink booths at various locations, which will be managed entirely by female staff.
Furthermore, the commission clarified that information regarding voter turnout will be released immediately after voting, and mobile phones will not be permitted inside polling stations, requiring voters to leave them outside.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
