18-MAR-2026, 12:23 PM, Political activity intensified across Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry as parties stepped up their campaigns ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
The Election Commission announced the election schedule on March 15, setting the stage for a closely contested electoral season. Assam, Kerala and Puducherry are scheduled to vote on April 9, while Tamil Nadu will vote on April 23 and West Bengal will hold polling in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Counting is scheduled for May 4.
With the Model Code of Conduct now in force, political parties have moved into a more intensive campaign phase.
Five States Head to the Polls
The upcoming elections cover five states and Union Territories with a combined 824 Assembly constituencies.
The contests are expected to be closely watched because several major national and regional parties are competing for power.
In West Bengal, the BJP is challenging the Trinamool Congress government.
In Tamil Nadu, the DMK is seeking to retain power while opposition parties are attempting to strengthen their position.
Kerala remains a traditional contest between the Left Democratic Front and United Democratic Front, while the BJP is attempting to expand its electoral presence.
Assam will see a major contest involving the BJP and Congress, while the NDA is seeking to retain power in Puducherry.
West Bengal Campaign Gains Momentum
West Bengal is expected to be one of the most closely watched contests.
The BJP has been working to challenge Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the ruling Trinamool Congress.
The party has already launched statewide mobilisation efforts and has been strengthening its booth-level organisation.
The BJP’s campaign is expected to focus on governance, law and order and allegations of corruption, while the TMC is seeking to retain its support base and emphasise issues related to Bengal’s identity and regional interests.
The election will be held in two phases, with voting scheduled for April 23 and April 29.
BJP Focuses on Kerala
Kerala presents a different political challenge.
The state has traditionally been dominated by the LDF and UDF, with governments alternating between the two fronts.
The BJP is attempting to establish itself as a stronger third force.
The party’s Mission 2026 strategy has focused on constituencies where it believes it can make electoral gains.
Areas such as Nemom, Thrissur, Palakkad and parts of the Kasaragod region have received particular attention from the party.
Kerala is set to hold its elections in a single phase on April 9.The BJP-led NDA is also attempting to expand its presence in the state.
Tamil Nadu Prepares for a Major Contest
Tamil Nadu is another key state in the election cycle.
The DMK, led by Chief Minister MK Stalin, is seeking another term in office.
The BJP-led NDA is seeking to strengthen its foothold in the state and increase its political presence.
Alliance arrangements and seat-sharing are expected to play an important role because Tamil Nadu elections are traditionally shaped by coalition politics.
Voting in the state is scheduled for April 23, while the counting of votes will take place on May 4.
Assam is expected to see a significant contest between the ruling BJP and the Congress-led opposition.
The BJP has strengthened its position in the state in recent elections, while Congress is seeking to regain political ground.
Other regional parties and alliance arrangements could also influence the final contest in individual constituencies.
Assam will conduct its Assembly elections in a single phase on April 9.
Puducherry Election Also Important
Puducherry is also scheduled to go to the polls on April 9.
The NDA is seeking to retain power in the Union Territory, while opposition parties are preparing to challenge the ruling alliance.
Although Puducherry has fewer seats than the four states, its result will still be closely watched as part of the wider 2026 election cycle.
Model Code of Conduct Comes Into Force
Following the Election Commission’s announcement, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into force in the states and Union Territory going to the polls.
The Election Commission directed authorities to ensure that government machinery and public resources are not misused for campaigning.
Political parties and candidates must also follow rules concerning meetings, processions, advertisements and the use of public property.
The Commission has also activated complaint-monitoring mechanisms, including the C-Vigil App, to allow citizens and political parties to report alleged violations.
More than 5,173 flying squads and over 5,200 static surveillance teams were deployed across the poll-bound states and Union Territory, according to the government.
Campaigns Become More Focused
With polling dates now fixed, parties are moving from broad preparations towards constituency-level campaigning.
Candidate selection, alliance negotiations, rallies, public meetings and voter outreach are becoming increasingly important.
Political parties are also expected to release campaign promises and focus on issues specific to individual states.
While national political themes will remain important, local issues are likely to play a major role in determining voter preferences.
Major Issues Ahead of Polls
The issues likely to feature prominently in the campaigns vary between states.
These include:
- Employment and economic opportunities
- Welfare schemes
- Infrastructure
- Agriculture
- Law and order
- Education and healthcare
- State development
- Cost of living
- Local governance
- Regional identity
Each political party is expected to highlight issues where it believes it has an advantage.
Why These Elections Matter
The 2026 Assembly elections are politically important because they involve several major states and feature contests between national and regional parties.
For the BJP, the elections provide an opportunity to expand its presence in states such as Kerala and challenge established regional parties in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
For the Congress, the contests offer an opportunity to strengthen its position in states where it remains a major opposition force.
Regional parties such as the TMC and DMK are also defending their strongholds.
What Happens Next?
The coming weeks will see increased campaigning, candidate announcements, alliance decisions and public rallies.
Political parties will also have to ensure that their campaigns comply with the Model Code of Conduct.
The Election Commission will oversee the electoral process and monitor campaign-related violations.
With voting scheduled to begin on April 9, parties have limited time to finalise their strategies and reach voters across the five poll-bound states and Puducherry.
Conclusion
The 2026 Assembly elections have entered an active campaign phase after the Election Commission announced the polling schedule for Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry.
The election schedule sets April 9 for Assam, Kerala and Puducherry, while Tamil Nadu will vote on April 23. West Bengal will hold polling in two phases on April 23 and 29, with vote counting planned for May 4.
The BJP is seeking to expand its presence in several states, while regional parties including the TMC and DMK are defending important political strongholds.
The Congress is also looking to strengthen its position in the upcoming contests.
With the Model Code of Conduct already in force, the focus will now shift towards candidates, alliances, campaign promises and constituency-level battles.
The coming weeks are expected to bring a much more intense political campaign as parties attempt to consolidate their voter bases before polling begins.
Sources: Election Commission of India, Press Information Bureau and India Today.
