Kerala, Assam, Puducherry Elections 2026 — Campaigning Ends Today, Voting on April 9: What You Need to Know
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Divya Sharma 2026-04-07 India Elections 2026, Politics 10
By midnight tonight, April 7, political rallies will fall silent across Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry. The Model Code of Conduct prohibits any further public campaigning from 48 hours before polling begins — and voting in all three regions is scheduled for April 9. This is the last full day of political noise before voters take over.
Here is a clear summary of where things stand as the campaign enters its final hours.
Assam — BJP Vs Congress, One Last Push
The Assam campaign has been among the most fiercely contested in the country this season. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma spent the final days of campaigning predicting a win of 90 to 100 seats for the NDA, while Congress state president Gaurav Gogoi countered with claims of a "wave of change." PM Narendra Modi addressed rallies in key constituencies, including Khowang, while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra campaigned in support of AJP's Lurinjyoti Gogoi in the same seat.
The last-day news cycle in Assam has been dominated by a separate controversy — Congress leader Pawan Khera's residence in Delhi was searched by Assam Police following an FIR lodged by CM Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, over claims made about her passports. Congress called it political intimidation; the BJP maintained it was a legal matter.
All 126 constituencies in Assam vote on April 9. The NDA alliance (BJP 90 + AGP 26 + BPF 11) is seeking a third consecutive term. The ASOM alliance (Congress 100 + Raijor Dal 13 + AJP) is its primary challenger. AIUDF contests independently with 27 candidates in the lower Assam belt. Results on May 4.
The key seats to watch: Jalukbari (CM Sarma vs Congress's Bidisha Neog), Jorhat (Gaurav Gogoi vs BJP's Hitendra Nath Goswami), and Sivasagar (Akhil Gogoi of Raijor Dal defending his seat).
Kerala — LDF vs UDF, History on the Line
Kerala's campaign has been equally intense, with the LDF defending what would be an unprecedented third consecutive term in power. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, contesting from his Dharmadam stronghold, kicked off his personal campaign in March and has been active across the state in the final stretch.
The UDF countered with Rahul Gandhi calling this "a battle of two ideologies" and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra campaigning in Wayanad, calling the state government "corrupt." V.D. Satheesan, leading Congress in the state, has focused heavily on central and north Kerala where opinion surveys suggest the UDF has momentum.
The LDF's campaign slogan — "Who else, but LDF" — has been its consistent message: a decade of development, welfare delivery, and governance that works. The UDF's counter — "Kerala will win, UDF will lead" — has focused on anti-incumbency, unemployment, and controversies, including the Sabarimala gold heist case.
All 140 seats will vote on April 9. The most recent Manorama News C-Voter survey projected UDF at 69–81 seats and LDF at 57–69 seats. With Kerala's tradition of alternating governments, May 4 could be historic either way.
Key seats: Dharmadam (Vijayan vs UDF's VP Abdul Rasheed vs BJP's K. Ranjith), Peravoor (Shailaja Teacher vs KPCC president Sunny Joseph), Nemom (BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar vs LDF vs UDF), and Palakkad (Ramesh Pisharody vs Sobha Surendran).
Puducherry — NDA vs Congress, 30 Seats
The Union Territory of Puducherry is often overshadowed by its larger neighbours in election coverage, but the 30-seat assembly here has its own political dynamics. The NDA, led by All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) under Chief Minister N.R. Rangaswamy, has governed since 2021. The Congress-DMK INDIA alliance is its primary challenger.
Puducherry votes on April 9 alongside Assam and Kerala. Results on May 4.
What Happens After April 9
Votes will be counted on May 4 alongside results from the first phases of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The new governments must be sworn in before May 20 (Assam) and May 23 (Kerala) when the current assemblies expire.
In Assam, a third NDA term would confirm Himanta Biswa Sarma as one of the BJP's most powerful regional leaders nationally. In Kerala, an LDF win would be historic; a UDF win would return the state to its traditional five-year rotation pattern. Both outcomes carry political weight beyond the state level.
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