New Delhi, April 8 (IANS). The noise of campaigning for the assembly elections in Assam, Kerala and Union Territory Puducherry has now completely stopped. Voting is to be held in a single phase on a total of 296 seats in these three areas on Thursday. With this the fate of the candidates will be captured in EVMs.
According to the Election Commission, voting will be held on 126 seats in Assam, 140 in Kerala and 30 in Puducherry. Talking about Assam, there are a total of 2.5 crore voters here, which include 1.25 crore men, 1.25 crore women and 343 third gender voters. The special thing is that about 5.75 lakh youth in the age group of 18-19 years will use their franchise for the first time. 722 candidates are in the fray for 126 seats in Assam and the majority figure here is 64. The tenure of the 15th Assembly of the state ends on 20 May 2026.
At the same time, 833 candidates are in the fray for 140 seats in Kerala. A triangular contest is being seen here between the main 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 men, 1.39 crore women and 273 third gender voters.
Elections are being held on 30 seats in Puducherry, out of which 5 seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes. To form the government here, majority of 16 seats is necessary. The total 9.44 lakh voters include about 4.43 lakh men, 5 lakh women and 139 third gender voters.
According to Election Commission data, a large number of candidates had filed nominations during the nomination process. In Assam, 1,388 nominations were filed, of which there were 817 candidates. In Kerala, 1,252 candidates had applied with 2,117 nominations and in Puducherry, 442 candidates had applied with 514 nominations. A total of 4,019 nominations were filed, comprising 2,511 candidates. However, after scrutiny and withdrawal of nominations, the number of final candidates has come down to just over 1,900.
‘Silence period’ is applicable under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. After voting in these states and union territories, counting of votes will take place on May 4 and the results will be declared on the same day. Now all eyes are on the voting percentage and election results.
Polling personnel have started reaching all the polling booths. Strict security arrangements have been made so that no disturbance of any kind occurs.
–IANS
VKU/ABM