LIVE: Mamata questions rationale behind 8-phase assembly polls in Bengal

Election 2021 schedule: ECI has announced election dates for West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry Assembly elections. Stay tuned for Assembly elections 2021 LIVE updates

Assembly Election Dates Announcement LIVE updates: The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry Assembly elections. While 294 Assembly seats are slated to go to polls in West Bengal, 234 seats are up for grabs in Tamil Nadu, 140 seats in Kerala, 126 seats in Assam and 30 seats in Puducherry.

While West Bengal will go to polls in eight phases, Assam will see three-phase voting starting March 27. Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will be held on April 6.

Results for all four states and one Union Territory will be declared on May 2.

ALSO READ: West Bengal election 2021 in 8 phases from March 27; counting on May 2

ALSO READ: Assam election 2021 from March 27; counting on May 2: All you need to know

During the press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said that a total of 824 assembly constituencies will be going for polls during the upcoming elections. "As many as 18.68 crore electors will cast vote at 2.7 lakh polling stations in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry," Arora said.

ALSO READ: Puducherry election 2021 on April 6, result on May 2; All you need to know

In West Bengal, a party has to get 148 to attain the majority. Earlier, the election was held between April 4 and May 5 in 2016, where the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee was re-elected in Vidhan Sabha.

ALSO READ: Kerala election 2021 from April 6; counting on May 2: All you need to know

In Kerlala, a party has to bag 71 seats to form a government. In 2016, the election was held on May 16, where the Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by CPI(M) won the election, and on May 25, Pinarayi Vijayan was sworn in as the chief minister of the state.

ALSO READ: Tamil Nadu election 2021 on April 6, result on May 2; know full schedule

Assam Assembly comprises 126 seats. A party has to garner 64 of them to get a majority. Earlier, the Assam Assembly election was held between April 4-11 in 2016, where Sarbananda Sonowal led-BJP was able to overthrow Congress party under Tarun Gogoi in the state.

Tamil Nadu elections will be held for 234 seats. The term limits of the fifteenth Tamil Nadu legislative assembly will end on May 24, 2021.

Puducherry is currently under the President's rule.

Stay tuned for Assembly elections LIVE updates

1:34 PM

Tamil Nadu election: Will start the election campaigning on March 3, says Kamal Haasan

I will start the election campaigning on March 3rd. I will speak about alliances once it is finalised. Party will announce the first list of candidates on March 7th: Kamal Haasan, Makkal Needhi Maiam chief

12:15 PM

Tamil Nadu election 2021: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrives in Thoothukudi

11:33 AM

West Bengal: BJP office in Baranagar area of North 24 Parganas district vandalised

West Bengal: BJP office in Baranagar area of North 24 Parganas district was vandalised last night. BJP alleges TMC's role behind this. One of the miscreants was beaten up by BJP supporters, later rescued by Police & taken to Police station. A Police complaint lodged by BJP.

10:40 AM

Tamil Nadu election 2021: BJP, AIADMK duscuss seat-sharing for the state assembly polls

Tamil Nadu: MoS MHA & BJP's state election in-charge G Kishan Reddy and state BJP chief L Murugan met CM Edappadi K Palaniswami & Deputy CM O Panneerselvam at their respective residences today & discussed seat-sharing for the state assembly polls.

10:34 AM

5 assembly polls to begin Mar 27, WB to have 8 phases, counting on May 2

Voting for five assembly elections will begin on March 27, with West Bengal hosting eight phases over a month, while votes in the four states and one union territory will be counted on May 2, the Election Commission said on Friday.

 

As many as 18.68 crore voters will be eligible to cast their votes at 2.7 lakh polling stations for 824 assembly seats across Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Read on...

9:29 PM

EC has tried to help BJP: Cong leader on eight-phase polls in West Bengal

With the Election Commission (EC) announcing eight-phase Assembly polls in West Bengal, senior Congress leader Tariq Anwar alleged on Friday that the poll panel has tried to help the BJP.

 

Voting for the Assembly polls in four states and the Union Territory of Puducherry will begin on March 27, with West Bengal to witness the maximum of eight phases of polling continuing till April 29, the EC announced on Friday. Counting of votes for the four states and Puducherry will be taken up on May 2. Read more

9:06 PM

Ahead of polls, Tamil Nadu provides 10.5% sub-quota for most backward Vanniyar community

The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Friday passed a bill providing internal reservation of 10.5 per cent for Vanniyars, a most backward community in government jobs and in admission to educational institutions.

 

The sub-quota move follows agitations by the Pattali Makkal Katchi, an ally of the ruling AIADMK, demanding quota for Vanniyars and more than ten rounds of talks between the government and the party representatives since December last.

 

The bill, piloted by Chief Minister K Palaniswami, was passed, shortly before the Election Commission announced the schedule for the assembly elections in the state.

8:32 PM

5 assembly polls to begin Mar 27, West Bengal to have eight phases, counting on May 2

Voting for five assembly elections will begin on March 27, with West Bengal conducting the maximum eight phases continuing till April 29, and votes for the polls in the four states and one union territory will be counted on May 2, the Election Commission said on Friday.

 

As many as 18.68 crore voters will be eligible to cast their votes at 2.7 lakh polling stations for 824 assembly seats across Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. READ MORE...

 

8:20 PM

Gujarat local bodies polls: Campaigning ends, voting on Feb 28

Campaigning for polls to various local bodies of Gujarat ended on Friday evening with voting scheduled for February 28. Counting of votes for elections to 81 municipalities, 31 district panchayats and 231 taluka panchayats will take place on March 2, a release by the State Election Commission said.

 

While the BJP is riding high after winning all six civic corporation polls held recently, the Congress believes the hike in fuel prices and public disenchantment with the ruling party will turn the tide.

 

On the last day of campaigning, Gujarat BJP president CR Paatil led a road show in Navsari, while Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Paresh Dhanani, took part in a motorcycle rally in Amreli.

7:52 PM

Puducherry election 2021 on April 6, result on May 2; All you need to know

Puducherry Assembly election will be held in a single phase on April 6, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Friday. Puducherry election result will be declared on May 2.

 

Puducherry election 2021: Full schedule

 

-Date of issue of gazette notification: March 12

 

-Last date of nomination: March 19

 

-Scrutiny of nomination: March 20

 

-Last date of withdrawal of candidature: March 22

 

-Dates of polling: April 6

 

-Date of counting: May 2

7:37 PM

'Are Bengal poll dates announced as per suggestions of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah?' asks Mamata Banerjee

7:20 PM

Tamil Nadu election 2021 on April 6, result on May 2; know full schedule

Tamil Nadu Assembly election will be held in a single phase on April 6, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Friday. Tamil Nadu election result will be declared on May 2. The term of the state's 15th legislative assembly will end on May 24, 2021. Voting to take place for 234 seats in Tamil Nadu.

 

Since 1967, Tamil Nadu has been ruled by either the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) or the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). Although both the parties have fought Assembly elections in alliance with other parties, the alliance parties were not part of the state government. Since then, everal new parties and third fronts have emerged, claiming to be a credible alternative to these parties.

Tamil Nadu election 2021: Full schedule

 

7:17 PM

West Bengal election 2021 in 8 phases from March 27; counting on May 2

West Bengal Assembly election will be held in eight phases from March 27, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Friday. West Bengal election result will be declared on May 2. The ruling Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee has pitched this election as a contest between the people of Bengal and ‘outsiders’. Meanwhile, political pundits expect Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s meteoric rise in the state. However, it is yet to be seen what role the Left-Congress-Indian Secular Forum play in terms of bagging a share of the votes.

 

West Bengal election 2021: Full schedule

7:12 PM

Centre can't misuse their powers for a State election: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

7:03 PM

LIVE: Mamata questions rationale behind 8-phase assembly polls in West Bengal