New Delhi, Apr 9 (UNI) Voting for key Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry commenced on Thursday morning with a steady voter turnout, as over 5.3 crore electors began casting their ballots to determine the political future of two states and one union Territory.
By 11 am, turnout figures stood at 38.92% in Assam, 33.28% in Kerala and 37.06% in Puducherry, reflecting an encouraging early response in the single-phase elections.
Polling began at 7 am and will continue until evening across 140 constituencies in Kerala, 126 in Assam and 30 in Puducherry. Authorities have put in place elaborate security arrangements, extensive deployment of polling personnel, and large-scale webcasting to ensure transparency and smooth conduct. Special provisions have also been made for senior citizens, first-time voters and persons with disabilities, with additional monitoring through drone surveillance in sensitive areas.
The elections follow an intense and high-voltage campaign that concluded on Tuesday, with major political parties making their final pitches to voters. The results will be declared on May 4 along with outcomes from West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, where polling is being conducted in phases.
In Assam, the contest is largely bipolar, with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance seeking a third consecutive term under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The Congress-led opposition, headed by Gaurav Gogoi, is attempting to regain power after a decade.
Regional forces such as the All India United Democratic Front, Raijor Dal and Assam Jatiya Parishad are expected to play a significant role in shaping outcomes in several constituencies.
The state has over 2.5 crore eligible voters, including more than 1.25 crore women, voting across 31,490 polling stations, with 722 candidates in the fray.
Kerala is witnessing a closely fought contest across its 140 constituencies, where 2.71 crore voters will decide the fate of 883 candidates.
The ruling Left Democratic Front, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, is seeking a rare third consecutive term in office. The Congress-led United Democratic Front is aiming for a comeback, highlighting issues of governance and anti-incumbency, while the BJP-led NDA is looking to build on its incremental gains and expand its presence in the state.
In Puducherry, a multi-cornered contest is underway among the NDA, the Congress-DMK alliance and actor-turned-politician Vijay’s newly launched Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. The union Territory has over 10 lakh electors choosing from 294 candidates across 1,099 polling stations spread across Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam.
Simultaneously, by-elections are being held in parts of Karnataka, Nagaland and Tripura. Early turnout trends showed Bagalkot in Karnataka recording 27.83% voting and Davanagere 22.01% by 11 am. In Nagaland’s Koridang constituency in Mokokchung district, polling reached 41.06%, while Tripura’s Dharmanagar seat recorded 33.51% turnout. The Koridang bypoll was necessitated following the death of sitting BJP MLA Imkong L. Imchen in November 2025.
The simultaneous conduct of elections across multiple regions highlights the scale and complexity of India’s democratic exercise, with single-phase polling in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry contrasting with the multi-phase schedule in West Bengal. As voting progresses through the day, turnout patterns and voter participation will be closely watched ahead of the final verdict next month. UNI SKA AAB