Assembly Elections 2026: Assam, Kerala, Puducherry To Vote On Thursday; Bypolls In 3 States; Goa Election Cancelled
Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry will vote in crucial Assembly elections. Three states will undergo bypolls as Goa poll was cancelled.
Published : April 8, 2026 at 5:21 PM IST
Hyderabad: India is set for a crucial day of voting on Thursday (April 9) as multiple states and a Union Territory head to polls in high-stakes Assembly elections, while by-elections will also take place in three states.
The electoral contests in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry are being closely watched, with major political parties battling for power and looking to strengthen their position ahead of future national elections.
Extensive security arrangements, large-scale deployment of polling personnel and tight monitoring have been put in place by the Election Commission to ensure that the voting process remains free, fair, and peaceful.
Bypolls in Karnataka, Nagaland, and Tripura are also expected to witness keen contests, while a scheduled by-election in Goa has been cancelled following a court order.
Assam Assembly Elections 2026
All 126 Assembly constituencies in Assam will go to polls in a single phase on April 9. The contest is mainly between the BJP-led NDA, which is aiming for a third straight term, and the Congress-led opposition alliance, which is trying to return to power after losing in 2016.
A total of 722 candidates are in the fray. Key leaders contesting include Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal and Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi. Around 2.5 crore voters are eligible to vote across 31,490 polling stations.
The Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements, including webcasting at all polling booths and deployment of central forces to ensure peaceful voting.
Kerala Assembly Elections 2026
Kerala will also vote in a single phase for all 140 seats. A total of 883 candidates are contesting, and over 2.7 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes.
The main fight is between the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is aiming for a third consecutive term, while the UDF is hoping to regain power.
Polling will take place from 7 AM to 6 PM at over 30,000 polling stations. Security has been tightened, and arrangements have been made for smooth voting.
Puducherry Assembly Elections 2026
In Puducherry, polling will be held for all 30 Assembly seats. A total of 294 candidates are in the fray, including Chief Minister N Rangasamy.
The ruling NDA, led by the All India N R Congress, is facing the Congress-DMK alliance. Around 9.5 lakh voters are eligible to vote. Over 1,000 polling stations have been set up, with heavy security deployment and strict monitoring in place.
Bypolls in other states
By-elections will also be held in Karnataka, Nagaland, and Tripura.
In Karnataka, bypolls will be conducted in the Davangere South and Bagalkote constituencies following the deaths of sitting MLAs. The contests are mainly between Congress and BJP candidates. The ruling Congress has fielded Shamanur Shivashankarappa’s grandson and Karnataka Minister S S Mallikarjun’s son Samarth Shamanur in Davanagere South and Umesh Meti in Bagalkote, who are locked in a direct contest with BJP candidates T Dasakariyappa and Veerabhadrayya Charantimath.
Nagaland will see a bypoll in the Koridang seat, where six candidates are in the fray. The by-election was necessitated after the death of a sitting BJP MLA.
In Tripura, the Dharamanagar seat will witness a multi-cornered contest involving BJP, Congress and CPI(M) candidates. The bypoll was triggered by the death of the sitting MLA and Assembly Speaker.
Goa Bypoll Cancelled
The Bombay High Court has cancelled the bypoll in Goa's Ponda constituency, calling the Election Commission's notification "null and void." The court noted that less than one year remains in the Assembly's term, making the by-election unnecessary.
Counting of votes for all elections and bypolls will take place on May 4.
Also Read
- Assam Assembly Elections 2026: 48-Hour Silence Period Begins; Key Constituencies, Candidates, Security - Read All Details Here
- Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: LDF Eyes Hat-Trick, Congress Seeks Comeback; 48-Hour Silence Period Starts
- Assembly Elections 2026: Campaigning Ends In Puducherry As Silence Period Begins Ahead Of April 9 Polls
