Election Buzz Begins

March 18, 2026

Abhsihek Vij

On Sunday, the Election Commission announced the dates for assembly elections in five states across the country: West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry. In West Bengal, voting will take place in two phases—the first on April 23 and the second on April 29. In all other states, voting will be conducted in a single phase: on April 23 in Tamil Nadu, and on April 9 in Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry. Polling will be held for a total of 824 seats. The counting of votes for all states is scheduled for May 4. In these elections, 174 million voters are set to exercise their franchise.

With the sounding of the election bugle, the BJP stole an early march in West Bengal by announcing the names of 144 candidates. Suvendu Adhikari has been fielded from both of Mamata Banerjee’s constituencies: Nandigram and Bhabanipur. In Kerala as well, the BJP has released the names of candidates for 47 seats. Meanwhile, acting on the directives of the Election Commission, six officials in West Bengal—including the Chief Secretary, the State DGP, and the Kolkata Police Commissioner—have been transferred.

Undoubtedly, the assembly elections in these key states hold immense significance. We remain hopeful that, regardless of the extent to which political parties may engage in mutual recrimination during their campaigns, the elections will be conducted peacefully, in keeping with the traditions of Indian democracy. At a time when the specter of war looms globally, the peaceful conduct of elections in these five pivotal states will undoubtedly further enhance the dignity of Indian democracy. While it is still too early to determine the ultimate fate of the current Central Government, these elections will certainly provide a clear indication of the performance of the incumbent state governments and the public’s perception of them. At this juncture, the entities whose performance will be watched with keen interest are the Trinamool government in West Bengal—currently completing its third term—the Left Front government in Kerala—completing its second term—and the BJP government in Assam.

Furthermore, the results expected on May 4th will reveal the extent to which the BJP and the Congress have deepened their connect with the electorate over these past years. While the BJP and the Congress are the only parties officially recognized as ‘national parties,’ the standing of the Marxist Communist Party—which forms the government in Kerala—will also be put to the test. Its stature has diminished from that of a national party, becoming largely confined to the status of a regional entity.

Incumbent state governments typically attempt to assess their future prospects well in advance. However, in India, this assessment is conducted in a rather peculiar manner; instead of analyzing their own errors with a view to rectifying them, the emphasis here tends to be placed on devising strategies to woo specific segments of the electorate.

The BJP asserts that it will return to power in Assam, while in Kerala, the Congress is bolstering its own claims to form the government. However, in political parties where factionalism runs rampant, the likelihood of electoral victory tends to diminish significantly. In Assam, the Congress aims to mount a challenge against the BJP; yet, only time will tell to what extent it will be able to do so.

In state assembly elections, regional issues invariably take precedence over national ones. For instance, what solutions have been found for the long-pending regional problems plaguing these states? To what extent has the daily life of the common citizen improved? How effectively have crime and lawlessness been brought under control in urban areas? What new schemes have the state governments launched to foster the development of their respective regions?

Regardless of the political dynamics at play, the establishment of good governance remains the foremost priority for the citizens. People will exercise their franchise with the hope of securing good governance. From this moment until the conclusion of the electoral process, all eyes will remain fixed on the intense political activity unfolding across these five states.