West Bengal will have six-phased assembly polls beginning April 18 and the two-phased elections in Assam will be held on April 4 and 11 while voters in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry would exercise their franchise on April 13.
Counting of votes in all the five states will take place on May 13.
With parts of West Bengal affected by Maoists activities and frequent clashes between rival political groups, the polling in the state have been staggered–April 18, 23, 27, May 3, 7 and 10.
Asked why EC has gone for a six-phased polls in West Bengal, Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi, who announced the poll schedule, said a decision was taken keeping in view the “ground realities”. EC had already sent two teams to the state to study the law and order situation.
While Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will have a single-phase polling on Apri1 13, Assam”s two-phased poll is scheduled on April four and 11, according to the schedule announced by the Election Commission setting in motion the largest electoral exercise since 2009 Lok Sabha polls.
The model code of conduct has come into force immediately, Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi said announcing the schedule.
While West Bengal has 294 assembly constituencies, Tamil Nadu has 234, Kerala 140, Puducherry 30 and Assam 126.
The elections would involve over 14.39 crore electorate in the five states with West Bengal having the largest number of over 5.60 crore electors followed by Tamil Nadu 4.59 crore.
Kerala has 2.29
crore electors, Assam 1.81 crore and Puducherry merely over eight lakh.
Polling will be held through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMS).
A highlight this time is that Overseas Indians could exercise their franchise in person and instructions have been issued to facilitate their voting.
There have been elections only to few states since last Lok Sabha polls including those in Maharashtra, Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Haryana in 2009 and Bihar in 2010. PTI MS SPG
