Assembly elections 2026 LIVE: First EVM, VVPAT randomisation conducted ahead of Assam Assembly polls

Parties across poll-bound Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry continue to release candidate lists for the Assembly elections, which are set to be conducted between April 9 and April 29, 2026. 

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday (March 19, 2026) announced the second list of candidates for 112 seats in West Bengal. The mother of the doctor who was raped and murdered at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Hospital in August 2024 told media persons on Thursday (March 19, 2026) that she has informed the BJP leadership about her decision to contest the Assembly polls from the Panihati seat.

Assembly elections 2026 highlights: R.G. Kar Medical College rape-murder victim’s mother seeks BJP ticket

With the Model Code of Conduct in effect, Flying Squad Teams (FSTs) and surveillance teams were flagged off in multiple districts. The Election Commission of India on Wednesday (March 18, 2026) said it seized a total of ₹42.65 crore worth of cash and other goods as of March 18, as part of the ongoing election expenditure monitoring and enforcement activities for the Assembly elections.

Editorial | Poll bugles: On the five Assembly elections

Assam, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry will go to polls on April 9, 2026. In Tamil Nadu, the election will be conducted on April 23. The first phase of elections will happen on April 23, 2026 in West Bengal and the second phase on April 29, 2026. The counting for all these elections will be held on May 4, 2026.