Assembly Election Schedule: West Bengal to go to polls in 8 phases, final result on May 2nd, Check full schedule

The Election Commission of India announced the Assembly Election Schedule for four states and one UT- Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry on February 26, 2021. 

The Assembly Election results of all five states/ UT will be declared on May 2nd. While Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will see single-phase elections, Assam will go to polls in three phase and West Bengal will have 8 phases. 

Counting of votes for elections to four states and one UT- on 2nd May: Chief Election Commissioner pic.twitter.com/YtVQNZUyRA

— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2021

Bengal to see 8-phase elections. 1st phase of polling on Mar 27, second phase of polling on Apr 1, third phase of polling on Apr 6, fourth phase of polling on Apr 10, fifth phase of polling on Apr 17, sixth phase polling on Apr 22, seventh phase-Apr 26, final phase polling-Apr 29 pic.twitter.com/F5UQDcPUpW

— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2021

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora while addressing the media said, "Amid the challenges of COVID-19, we shall find immense comfort in the stories of hope and positive stories that are emerging in the post COVID world. He also paid collective tribute to all the COVID warriors, doctors, paramedics, nurses, researchers, scientists and all the officials on election duty who are located on the frontlines. 

Our tributes to the COVID warriors, doctors, paramedics, nurses, researchers, scientists and all our officials on election duty who are located on the frontline: Sunil Arora
Chief Election Commissioner of India pic.twitter.com/6PYdRGtjbP

— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2021

The CEC further announced the theme of the National Voter's Day 2021: "Making our voters safe, informed and vigilant."

Further, CEC Sunil Arora said that in the thick of the pandemic, ECI started test trials with elections to 18 seats to Rajya Sabha. "After that, came the challenge of the Bihar elections, it was indeed a watershed moment for ECI. It proved to be a litmus test," he added.

In the thick of the pandemic, ECI started test trials with elections to 18 seats to Rajya Sabha. After that, came the challenge of the Bihar elections, it was indeed a watershed moment for ECI. It proved to be a litmus test: Sunil Arora, Chief Election Commissioner

— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2021

Term of State Assemblies

Assam - 31st May (126 Assembly Seats)

Tamil Nadu- 24th May (234 Assembly Seats)

West Bengal- 30th May (294 Assembly Seats)

Kerala- June 1st (140 Assembly Seats)

Puducherry- June 3rd (30 Assembly Seats)

Assembly Election Schedule 2021

-By-election to Malappuram constituency to be conducted simultaneously on April 6. 

-Elections to Kanyakumari Parliamentary Constituency to be conducted simultaneously. 

Key Highlights 

•  A total of 824 Assembly Constituencies will be going to polls during these elections.

• Around 18.68 crore electors will cast vote at 2.7 lakh polling stations in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.

Term of Assam assembly up to 31st May, no. of assembly seats 126, SC-8, ST-16; Term of Tamil Nadu- May24, no. of seats 234, SC-44, ST -2; Term of WB assembly till May30, seats 294, SC-68, ST-16; Kerala assembly-1 June, seats-140, SC- 14, ST-2; Puducherry seats-30 SC-5, ST-nil:CEC

— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2021

•  All polling stations to be on the ground floor. 

•  The EC is keeping a close watch on the health situation of the states going to polls.

•  All poll workers will be vaccinated as they are frontline workers. 

•  Steps taken to mitigate spread of COVID-19-

-Concept of absentee voters introduced

-Postal Ballot option was continued as an option for senior citizens 

-Nodal health officers are appointed at state/ district levels

-Separate SOPs are there for COVID-19 patients, suspects and those under quarantine

-Polling time will be increased by one hour

-Several measures taken to minimise people-to-people contact

- Road shows allowed subject to break after every five vehicles

- Advance teams have been sent to all the five states and UTs

- Adequate CAPFs deployment shall be ensured during elections

- All critical, vulnerable polling stations identified and an adequate number of CAPFs will be deployed

Adequate CAPFs deployment shall be ensured during elections. All critical, vulnerable polling stations identified and an adequate number of CAPFs will be deployed: Sunil Arora, Chief Election Commissioner pic.twitter.com/Yd40zUTQOe

— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2021

MCC comes into force

The Chief Election Commissioner announced that the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) will come into force immediately with these announcements. Citizens can use cVIGIL app to report any violation of MCC. 

Background

The terms of the legislative assemblies of the five states/ UT- Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, West Bengal and Assam will come to end either in May or June 2021.

The Assembly Elections are due for 234 seats in Tamil Nadu, 294 seats in West Bengal, 140 seats in Kerala, 126 seats in Assam and 30 seats in Union Territory of Puducherry.