The 2026 assembly elections kicked off Thursday morning in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry, with 1,899 candidates vying for victory across 296 constituencies. Voting, from 7 AM to 5 PM, promises high drama as parties lock horns in a single-phase frenzy. Results on May 4 will reveal winners and losers in these battlegrounds.
Assam leads with 126 seats and a massive 25.05 million electorate spread over 31,490 booths. BJP eyes continuity amid Congress’s comeback bid, with 722 hopefuls—59 women among them—competing post-delimitation. The stakes are sky-high for the Northeast powerhouse.
In Kerala, 140 seats pit LDF against UDF and NDA in a razor-sharp three-cornered fight. CPI(M)-helmed Left seeks to extend its rule to five terms, but Congress and BJP are mounting serious threats. 883 candidates chase 2.7 million voters at 30,000+ centers, turning many segments into multi-candidate arenas thanks to independents and rebels.
Puducherry’s compact 30-seat poll features 294 contenders for 9.5 lakh voters, 24,919 of whom debut as voters. CM N. Rangasamy’s AINRC-BJP coalition defends its turf across four districts: Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam.
Early morning sights of serpentine queues signal robust participation. These polls aren’t just local—they mirror broader alliances and rivalries. BJP consolidates in Assam and Puducherry, while Kerala’s Left tests endurance against national waves. Expect fervent campaigns to culminate in a voter tsunami shaping futures.
