Voting Underway in Assam, Kerala & Puducherry Polls

Single-phase polling for 296 assembly seats begins as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and superstar Mohanlal cast their votes in Kerala.

Dawn Polling in Three Regions

Voting began at 7 am on Thursday across Assam, Kerala and Puducherry and will continue till 5 pm. Election officials completed mock polling at every station between 6 am and 7 am to ensure EVMs functioned smoothly. More than 10 lakh first-time voters are among those queuing up in this key India news update.

Prominent Leaders Cast Votes

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan exercised his franchise at RC Amala Basic Upper Primary School in Kannur’s Dharmadom constituency. Actor Mohanlal voted at Government LP School in Mudavanmugal, Thiruvananthapuram. Union Minister Suresh Gopi cast his ballot in Thrissur while BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar stood in line at a polling booth in the capital.

High Stakes for Incumbents

In Kerala, Vijayan is seeking a third consecutive term — a first in the state’s 70-year history. In Assam, the BJP is banking on Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to deliver a hat-trick. In Puducherry, former Chief Minister N. Rangasamy is aiming for a fifth stint in office. A total of 722 candidates from 41 parties are contesting 126 seats in Assam, 890 candidates are in the fray in Kerala, and 294 candidates from 20 parties are fighting for 30 seats in the Union Territory.

Assam Eyes BJP Hat-Trick

The BJP is looking to retain power in Assam for the third successive time. Over the past 76 years the state has seen 15 chief ministers, with Congress ruling for nearly 51 years. The first non-Congress government came in 1978, and the BJP first formed government in 2016. Sarma, who has worked across parties, remains the face of the party in the Northeast.

Kerala Battles Traditional Rivals

In Kerala, the LDF and UDF are locked in a familiar contest while the BJP is trying to expand its footprint. BJP National President Nitin Nabin said the party had grown from 2 per cent vote share to 20 per cent and was now seen as a real alternative. LDF candidate P.A. Mohammed Riyas highlighted the government’s record in delivering development projects, pensions and better schools and hospitals. UDF leaders expressed confidence of crossing 100 seats.

Puducherry Welcomes Voters with Robots

Puducherry, known as the Mini France of India, saw robots greeting voters at several stations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters, especially the youth and women, to turn out in large numbers. Former Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy, after casting his vote, said the INDIA alliance would form the next government.

Voter Turnout and Outlook

Long queues formed early at booths in Malappuram, Dibrugarh and Thiruvananthapuram. Officials reported steady flow of voters, including many young faces. As polling concludes this evening, all eyes will turn to the counting of votes. The results of these Assam Kerala Puducherry Assembly Elections will decide the political direction of two major states and one Union Territory and shape national political narratives in the days ahead.

PM Modi to Lead BJP’s Bengal Blitz; Congress Jolted by Assam Exit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address three major rallies in West Bengal today, even as the Congress faces a setback with a candidate quitting ahead of the Assam polls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address three high-decibel election rallies across West Bengal on Thursday, April 9, 2026, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pushes to breach Trinamool Congress (TMC) bastions. The high-stakes campaign coincides with a dramatic turn in Assam, where a key Congress candidate resigned from the party just hours before the commencement of polling, citing internal neglect.

Strategic rallies in Bengal

The Prime Minister’s itinerary begins at 9:30 am in Haldia Township, East Medinipur, a region where the BJP has previously demonstrated significant electoral muscle. Following the Haldia address, the PM will move to the Polo Ground stadium in Asansol before concluding his day with a massive public meeting in Birbhum. These visits are viewed by analysts as a strategic move to consolidate the saffron party’s hold in the industrial belts and challenge the TMC’s traditional grip on Birbhum.

Congress faces Assam setback

In a major blow to the opposition’s prospects in the Northeast, Suren Daimari, the Congress candidate for the Udalguri seat in Assam, announced his resignation from the party on the eve of the election. Alleging a lack of support from the central leadership and claiming the party had "betrayed" the tribal communities, Daimari stated he would no longer contest under the hand symbol. The move has left the Congress in a precarious position as polling begins in the state today.

Multi-state by-polls underway

Beyond the primary battlegrounds, several states including Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland, and Tripura are witnessing by-elections for key Assembly constituencies today. Election Commission officials confirmed that voting began at 7:00 am under tight security. These by-polls are being closely watched as a barometer for the political climate ahead of upcoming full-scale assembly elections in several of these regions.

High-profile Baramati contest

In Maharashtra, the spotlight remains firmly on the Baramati constituency. The seat fell vacant following the tragic demise of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash earlier this year. The contest here is charged with emotional and political undertones, with the ruling alliance and the opposition trading barbs over the late leader’s legacy. Security has been significantly beefed up in the district to prevent any untoward incidents during the voting process.

BJP confident of victory

BJP National President Nitin Nabin, currently overseeing the campaign in West Bengal, expressed confidence in a "pro-incumbency" wave for the NDA. Speaking to reporters, Nabin dismissed the impact of regional alliances and predicted a historic mandate for the BJP in Bengal. He further targeted Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over alleged irregularities in the voter list, describing the current polls as a "fight to save the state" from institutional decay.

Impact on local policy

The outcome of these elections is expected to have a direct impact on state-level policy directions, particularly regarding land acquisition in Bengal’s industrial sectors and tribal welfare schemes in Assam. Observers note that a strong showing by the BJP could accelerate central infrastructure projects, while the Congress’s internal friction may necessitate a broader strategy shift for the opposition bloc at the national level.

Future political outlook

As the first phase of polling concludes this evening, the focus will shift toward the remaining phases in Bengal and the eventual counting of votes scheduled for early May. With the latest news today highlighting a shift in candidate loyalties and high-profile campaigning, the political landscape of 2026 remains fluid. Both the NDA and the I.N.D.I.A. bloc are expected to ramp up their digital and ground-level outreach in the coming weeks.