Assembly Elections 2026 Live: Voting Underway Across Kerala, Assam, Puducherry
Early turnout steady in Assam; PM Narendra Modi urges voters, especially youth and women, to participate actively
Kerala, Apr 09 : Polling for crucial Assembly elections commenced at 7 am on Thursday across Assam, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry, marking the start of an intense electoral contest in these regions.
In this phase, voting is being conducted for 126 seats in Assam, 140 seats in Kerala and 30 seats in Puducherry. The elections are being closely watched due to their political significance, with major parties aiming to strengthen their presence.
According to early data, Assam recorded a voter turnout of 17.87 per cent within the first two hours of polling. Officials stated that out of nearly 2.5 crore eligible voters in the state, a steady number participated between 7 am and 9 am. The BJP-led NDA is seeking a third consecutive term, while the Congress is attempting to regain power after a decade.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to citizens in all three regions to cast their votes in large numbers. In messages shared in multiple regional languages, he particularly encouraged young voters and women to actively take part in the democratic process.
Polling in Tamil Nadu is scheduled for April 23, while West Bengal will witness voting in two phases on April 23 and April 29. The counting of votes for all states and the Union Territory will take place on May 4.
