Voting is underway in a single phase on Thursday for the 2026 Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry, covering a total of 296 seats.
Polling is being conducted for 126 Assembly constituencies in Assam, 140 in Kerala, and 30 in Puducherry. All three regions are voting in a single phase as per the schedule set by the Election Commission.
Polling began at 7 a.m. and will continue until 6 p.m. Extensive security arrangements have been put in place to ensure that the voting process is conducted in a peaceful and fair manner. The results for all 296 seats across the two states and one Union Territory will be declared on May 4.
In the initial hours of voting, turnout was relatively slow, particularly in Kerala, where approximately 4.40 percent polling was recorded in the early phase, according to available data. Election officials indicated that voter turnout is expected to increase as the day progresses.
The number of voters at polling stations is gradually increasing, with long queues reported at several locations. The Election Commission is continuously monitoring the voting process.
Several constituencies in these elections are being closely watched due to their political significance. In Assam, seats such as Dispur, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Nagaon, Silchar, and Dhubri are considered important, with the standing of prominent leaders at stake. In Kerala, constituencies including Thiruvananthapuram, Nemom, Palakkad, Thrissur, Manjeshwaram, and Kozhikode North are under focus, with outcomes expected to influence the direction of government formation.
Security arrangements have been intensified across all three regions to ensure smooth conduct of polling. Additional security personnel have been deployed at sensitive and highly sensitive polling stations. The Election Commission has made special arrangements to ensure that voters can exercise their franchise without fear or pressure.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to voters, particularly in Assam, to participate actively in the democratic process. In a message shared on social media, he urged citizens to turn out in large numbers at polling stations and exercise their right to vote, calling for enthusiastic participation from youth, women, and all sections of society.
