West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry election dates announced; polls begin on 27th March; results to be declared on 2nd May

The Election Commission of India (ECI) chaired by Chief Election Commissioner held a press conference on Friday (February 26 ). The ECI today announced polling dates for assembly elections to West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala - and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

The poll panel held the press conference at 4.30 PM during where the dates for assembly elections were announced.

LIVE: #ElectionCommissionOfIndia announcing the schedule for holding General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu & West Bengal. #AssemblyElections2021 #ECI https://t.co/yS9EwLsH5w

— Election Commission of India #SVEEP (@ECISVEEP) February 26, 2021

The poll panel had held meetings with representatives of political parties, central and state regulatory agencies, senior IAS and IPS officers and the state’s top bureaucrats including the state’s chief secretary, home secretary and director general of police.

See Zee Business Live TV Streaming Below:

Highlights of Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said

-- West Baengal Election to be held in 8 phases. First phase is on 27 March for 47 seats. 2nd phase is on 1 April for 39 seats. Third phase is on 6 April for 42 seats. 4th phase is on 10 April for 44 seats. Fifth phase election is on 17 April for 45 seats. Sixth phase of election is on 22 April for 43 seats. 7th phase election on 26 April for 36 assembly seats and 8th phase election on 29 April for 35 seats.

-- Tamil Nadu Election in one phase for 234 assembly constituencies in 38 districts on 6 April.

-- Assam elections to be conducted in three phases. The first phase will be on 27 March, second phase will be on 1 April and third phase will be on 6 April. No of seats in second phase is 39. No of seats to go for election in third phase is 40. Total number of assembly seats is 126

-- Kerala to go for polls on 6 April. 14 districts to go for elections and total number of constituencies that will go for election are 147.  

-- Puducherry to go for polling for 30 seats on 6 April

-- All poll officials will be vaccinated ahead of the election

-- The percent increase in polling stations in Assam is 34%, in WestBengal it is 31.65% and in Kerala it is 89.65%

-- Chief ECI Sunil Arora: Our tributes to the COVID19 warriors and all our officials on election duty who are located on the frontline

-- Adequate CAPFs (Central Armed Police Forces) deployment shall be ensured during elections. All critical, vulnerable polling stations identified and an adequate number of CAPFs will be deployed 

-- Assam elections to be conducted in three phases. First phase of election is 27 March.  The second phase elections to be on 1 April. Third phase of election on 6 April. 

-- The results will be announced on 2 May