Polls announced for West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry
02 Mar 2011
New Delhi: Setting in motion the largest electoral exercise after the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, the country's Election Commission has announced six-phased assembly elections in West Bengal, a two-stage poll in Assam and a single day poll in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.
With parts of the state affected by extremist Maoist activities, the state of West Bengal will have elections in six phases on 18, 23, 27 April and 3, 7 and 10 May. The schedule will perhaps be the longest ever in the state, which has been known for its political violence.
Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will go to polls on 13 Apri1, while Assam's two-phased poll is scheduled for 4 and 11 April.
Counting of votes in all the five states will take place on May 13.
The model code of conduct comes into force immediately, chief election commissioner, SY Quraishi, said announcing the schedule.
While West Bengal has 294 assembly constituencies, Tamil Nadu has 234, Kerala 140, Puducherry 30 and Assam 126.