Election Commission announces Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam, Puducherry poll dates

A total of 18.86 crore electors will cast their votes at 2.7 lakh polling stations across the four states and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

Election Commission has announced dates for elections in Kerala, West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry.
 

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora announced that a total of 824 assembly constituencies shall be going for polls during these elections. 
 

A total of 18.86 crore electors will cast their votes at 2.7 lakh polling stations across the four states and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
 

Door-to-door campaigning has been restricted to 5 people.

West Bengal
Number of seats: 294
 

Phase 1: 38 Seats
Date of filing nomination: March 9
Date of polling: March 27
Date of election outcome: May 2
 

Phase 2: 20 Seats
Date of filing nomination: March 12
Date of polling: April 1
Date of election outcome: May 2
 

Phase 3: 31 Seats 
Date of filing nomination: March 19
Date of polling: April 6
Date of election outcome: May 2
 

Phase 4: 44 Seats
Date of filing nomination: March 23
Date of polling: April 10
Date of election outcome: May 2
 

Phase 5: 45 Seats
Date of filing nomination: March 30
Date of polling: April 17
Date of election outcome: May 2
 

Phase 6: 43 Seats
Date of filing nomination: April 3
Date of polling: April 22
Date of election outcome: May 2
 

Phase 7: 36 Seats
Date of filing nomination: April 7
Date of polling: April 26
Date of election outcome: May 2
 

Phase 8: 35 Seats
Date of filing nomination: April 7
Date of polling: April 29
Date of election outcome: May 2

Tamil Nadu
Number of seats: 234
Date of filing nomination: March 19 
Date of polling: April 6
Date of election outcome: May 2

Puducherry
Number of seats: 30
Date of filing nomination: March 19
Date of polling: April 6
Date of election outcome: May 2

Kerala 
Number of seats: 140
Date of filing nomination: March 12
Date of polling: April 6
Date of election outcome: May 2

Assam
Number of seats: 126
 

Phase 1: 47 seats
Date of filing nomination: March 9
Date of polling: 27 March
Date of election outcome: May 2
 

Phase 2: 39 seats
Date of filing nomination: March 3
Date of polling: April 1
Date of election outcome: May 2
 

Phase 3: 40 seats
Date of filing nomination: March 19
Date of polling: April 6
Date of election outcome: May 2

The Election Commission said all festivals and CBSE Board exams had been taken into account while deciding the date of holding elections.
 

The poll body also said that adequate deployment of central paramilitary forces will be ensured during elections. 
 

An adequate number of CAPFs will be deployed at all critical, vulnerable polling stations identified. Webcasting will be done from polling stations in critical and vulnerable areas