The noise of election campaign for the assembly elections in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry has now completely stopped. Voting for a total of 296 seats in these three regions is being held in a single phase today (April 8, 2026). With this, the future of the candidates will be locked in EVM. According to the Election Commission, voting will be held for 126 seats in Assam, 140 seats in Kerala and 30 seats in Puducherry.
Over 1.5 lakh security personnel have been deployed in Assam to go to the polls on April 8 to decide the fate of 722 candidates vying for entry into the 126-member assembly. Officials said 31,940 polling stations have been set up in 35 districts for this one-phase election. Observers have been deployed at sensitive polling stations. Of the total polling stations, 126 (one for each constituency) have been designated as ‘Model Polling Stations’. 4,021 booths will be managed entirely by women personnel, of which the highest number—398 booths—are located in Cachar district.
The Assam government on Thursday declared a public holiday for all government and private offices, as well as urban local bodies, educational institutions and business and commercial establishments. Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goyal said that webcasting facility has been started at all the polling stations, so that real-time monitoring of the voting process can be done by the offices of District Election Officer, Chief Electoral Officer and Election Commission of India. Provision of basic facilities like drinking water, waiting areas, toilets and wheelchairs for disabled persons has been ensured at all polling stations. A total of 2.50 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise. These voters will decide the future of 722 candidates contesting the elections.
In Kerala, 833 candidates are in the fray for 140 seats. A triangular contest is being seen here between major political parties. A majority of 71 seats is required to form the government. There are a total of 2.71 crore voters in the state, which includes 1.32 crore males, 1.39 crore females and 273 third gender voters. Elections are being held for 30 seats in Puducherry, out of which 5 seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes. To form the government here, a majority of 16 seats is required.
