Poll panel announces schedule for Assembly elections in W Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry
Team News Riveting
The Election Commission of India (ECI) today announced the schedule for the assembly elections to be held in four states and a union territory.
As per the schedule, assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry would be held from March 27 to April 29. The counting of votes in all the four states and one Union Territory would take place on May 2.
The assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry would be held in a single phase on April 6 while sensitive Bengal would go to the polls in eight phases on March 27, April 1, 6, 10, 17, 22, 26 and 29. The polling in Assam would take place in three phases on March 27, April 1 and 6.
Announcing the poll scheduled in New Delhi this evening, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said 18.68 crore electors would vote at 2.7 lakh polling stations for 824 seats in this elections for four states and one union territory. He said the polling time had been increased by one hour.
Arora said a webcasting arrangement would be in place at polling stations in critical and vulnerable areas. Adequate Central Armed Police Forces deployment would be ensured during elections and all critical, vulnerable polling stations, he said, adding that special observers had been appointed in the four states going to polls.
Elaborating about measures in view of Covid-19 pandemic, Arora said everyone on poll duty would be vaccinated before the elections. He added that door-to-door campaigning would be restricted to five persons including the candidate.
The CEC said, the model code of conduct came into force with the announcement of the elections.
The poll panel also announced a By-poll for Kanyakumari Lok Sabha constituency in Tamil Nadu and Malappuram Lok Sabha in Kerala which would be held on April 6.
