The Election Commission of India (ECI) has formally announced the schedule for the 2026 assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Following this announcement, the ECI has issued directives for the strict enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in these states and Union Territory (UT). In a statement, the Commission highlighted that immediate implications of the MCC apply to the Chief Secretaries and Chief Electoral Officers of the respective regions. The MCC guidelines will also extend to the Central Government in relation to announcements and policy decisions pertinent to these areas.
Citizen Privacy and Compliance Measures
The ECI emphasized the importance of respecting citizen privacy, stating that no demonstrations or gatherings should occur outside private residences. It also underscored that flags, banners, or posters cannot be displayed on personal property without the owner’s prior consent. To ensure adherence to the MCC, the ECI has established a complaint monitoring system that includes a dedicated Call Centre at number 1950 for lodging grievances with District Election Officers or Returning Officers. Electors and political parties can report any MCC violations via the C-Vigil App, available on the ECINET platform.
Deployment of Resources for Election Monitoring
Over 5,173 flying squads and more than 5,200 Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs) have been mobilized across the states and UT to promptly address complaints, with a response time aimed at 100 minutes. The ECI noted that political parties must inform authorities ahead of any meeting or procession to facilitate necessary traffic and security arrangements, while also ensuring compliance with prohibitory orders and acquiring requisite permissions for loudspeakers and similar facilities.
Guidelines for Government Officials
Government ministers are prohibited from using official capacities for election campaigning or leveraging government resources for political purposes. All officials at various levels have been instructed to maintain impartiality throughout the enforcement of the MCC, guaranteeing fair and equal treatment for all political entities. They must oversee arrangements for meetings, processions, and polling in an equitable manner to ensure law and order while upholding the integrity of the electoral process.
Public Venue Reservations and Election Schedule
The SUVIDHA module on ECINET has been activated, allowing political parties to apply for the usage of public spaces for their events, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The election schedule has designated polling dates: West Bengal will conduct voting in two phases on April 23 and April 29, while Kerala and Assam will hold elections in a single phase on April 9. Tamil Nadu voters will cast their ballots on April 23, with Puducherry also voting on April 9. The counting of votes for all states and Puducherry is scheduled for May 4.
Additional Elections and Electorate Details
Alongside the assembly elections, the ECI has also announced by-elections for six legislative seats across different states, including Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland, and Tripura, to take place in two phases. Overall, these elections will encompass 824 assembly constituencies, with an approximate total electorate of 17.4 crore voters. Approximately 2.19 lakh polling stations will be established, and around 25 lakh personnel will be tasked with conducting the elections. The terms for the current assemblies are set to conclude on varying dates, including May 7 for West Bengal, May 10 for Tamil Nadu, May 20 for Assam, May 23 for Kerala, and June 15 for Puducherry.