The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the Assembly elections 2026 schedule on 15 March 2026. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar released the dates at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The polls covered West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry. Together, these regions have 824 Assembly constituencies. Also, the Model Code of Conduct came into force immediately.
Polling Dates State by State
Kerala, Assam and Puducherry voted in a single phase on 9 April 2026. Then, Tamil Nadu voted in one phase on 23 April. Meanwhile, West Bengal voted in two phases, on 23 and 29 April. In contrast, the state had eight phases in 2021. Finally, counting for all five took place on 4 May 2026.
Seats at Stake
West Bengal has 294 seats, Tamil Nadu 234 and Kerala 140. Meanwhile, Assam has 126 seats and Puducherry 30.
Latest Update: Results and New Chief Ministers
In West Bengal, the BJP won over 200 seats and ended Trinamool Congress rule. As a result, Suvendu Adhikari became the state’s first BJP Chief Minister. In Tamil Nadu, actor Vijay’s TVK won 108 seats, short of a majority. However, support from Congress, the Left, VCK and IUML took it past 118. So, Vijay took oath as Chief Minister on 10 May.
Also, in Kerala, the Congress-led UDF returned to power after a decade. Then, V. D. Satheesan took oath as the 13th Chief Minister on 18 May. Meanwhile, the BJP retained Assam with 82 seats. Himanta Biswa Sarma began his second term on 12 May. Finally, N. Rangasamy of the AINRC took oath in Puducherry for a record fifth term on 13 May.
About the Election Commission of India
Article 324 of the Constitution vests the superintendence of elections in the ECI. The Commission came into existence on 25 January 1950. Since 2011, India marks this date as National Voters’ Day. Currently, the ECI has a Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners.
Assembly Elections 2026: Key Facts for Revision
- Announcement: 15 March 2026, by CEC Gyanesh Kumar
- Constituencies: 824 across four states and one UT
- Phases: Two in West Bengal; one each elsewhere
- Counting: 4 May 2026
- New CMs: Suvendu Adhikari (WB), Vijay (TN), V. D. Satheesan (Kerala)
- Retained: Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam), N. Rangasamy (Puducherry)
Why Assembly Elections 2026 Matter for UPSC and UKPSC
Notably, these polls reshaped politics in Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. So, remember the phases, the counting date and the new Chief Ministers. Also, link the polls with Article 324 and the Model Code of Conduct. For official updates, also visit the Election Commission of India. Next, for a related story, read about the 131st Constitution Amendment.
So, are you preparing for the UKPSC Upper PCS 2026 prelims? Then join our UKPSC 2026 Prelims Test Series for regular practice.