The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to announce the schedule for the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam and the Union Territory of Puducherry on Sunday.
The poll body will reveal the election timetable during a press conference scheduled for 4 pm, officially setting the stage for one of the biggest electoral exercises in the country this year.
The tenures of the legislative assemblies in these states and the Union Territory are due to expire between May and June, making it mandatory for the Commission to complete the election process before the terms end.
According to election officials, a special intensive revision of electoral rolls has already been completed in all four states and the Union Territory. The final voter lists have also been published ahead of the announcement.
The decision to finalise the poll schedule follows a crucial meeting of the Election Commission held in New Delhi on March 11, where officials discussed the election timetable and the likely phase-wise polling strategy.
Reports suggest that the Commission also conducted the final round of ground-level assessments in the poll-bound states to review security arrangements, logistics and overall preparedness.
The Election Commission team was led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and included Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
The panel reportedly returned to New Delhi late Tuesday night after completing their review of election preparedness in multiple regions.
Once the election schedule is announced, the Model Code of Conduct will come into immediate effect in the poll-bound states and the Union Territory, restricting governments from announcing new policies or projects that could influence voters.
The upcoming elections are expected to witness intense political contests among major national and regional parties, particularly in politically crucial states such as West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
With preparations already completed and security arrangements under review, the Election Commission’s announcement today will formally kick off the election process for millions of voters across these states and the Union Territory.
