India State Elections 2026: Complete Guide to Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal Polls
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Jack Miller 2026-04-03 India Elections 2026, Politics 20
India is heading into one of its largest state election cycles of the decade. Four states and one union territory — Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry — will go to the polls in April 2026, collectively covering 824 assembly seats and over 17 crore voters. Results will be declared on May 4.
The Election Commission of India announced the schedule on March 15, 2026, bringing the Model Code of Conduct into immediate effect. Here is everything voters and political observers need to know.
Tamil Nadu — April 23, 2026
Tamil Nadu's 234-seat assembly will vote in a single phase on April 23, with results on May 4. The sitting 16th Assembly's term ends on May 10. M.K. Stalin's DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance won 159 seats in 2021 and has governed since.
The main contest this time is between the DMK-led SPA alliance and an AIADMK-BJP combine. Stalin released his party's manifesto on March 29. The AIADMK, under Edappadi Palaniswami, released a 297-promise manifesto that includes Rs 2,000 monthly assistance for women and Rs 10,000 relief payments per family.
New wild card: Actor-turned-politician Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) are contesting all 234 seats solo after announcing their full candidate list on March 30. Vijay's entry could split votes in ways that benefit or hurt the major alliances unpredictably.
Assam — April 9, 2026
Assam's 126-seat assembly votes on April 9 in a single phase. The BJP-led NDA, which won 75 seats in 2021, is defending its majority under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Congress is the main challenger.
The BJP has focused its campaign on infrastructure achievements and women's welfare schemes. Congress has countered with accusations around alleged illegal immigration from Bangladesh, a deeply emotive issue in Assam. Nearly 2.5 crore voters are registered, with the Bodoland Territorial Region, the Barak Valley, and the tea belt districts as key battlegrounds.
Kerala — April 9, 2026
Kerala's 140 seats go to the polls alongside Assam on April 9. The Left Democratic Front, led by the CPI(M), made history in 2021 by winning a second consecutive term — something no government in Kerala had done since 1977. The question for 2026: can the LDF win a third term, or has anti-incumbency finally turned the tide?
West Bengal — April 23 and April 29, 2026
The most complex contest involves West Bengal's 294 seats, spread across two phases. Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress is targeting a fourth straight term. The BJP is the primary challenger. A BJP win here would substantially change the party's footprint in eastern India ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Puducherry — April 9, 2026
The Union Territory of Puducherry's 33 seats vote on April 9. The NDA has governed since 2021 under Chief Minister N.R. Rangaswamy of the AINRC. The Congress-DMK INDIA bloc is the primary challenger.
Why These Results Matter
The 2026 state elections are not just about local governance. They will be read nationally as a mid-term report card for both the ruling NDA at the centre and the INDIA opposition bloc. The results on May 4 will reshape calculations ahead of the 2029 general election.
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