The Election Commission is likely to announce the dates for the assembly elections in four states and one Union Territory on Sunday evening. The Commission has scheduled a press conference at 4 pm.
The Model Code of Conduct will come into force in the four states—Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Assam—and the Union Territory of Puducherry soon after the poll body announces the election schedule. The terms of these legislative assemblies are set to end on different dates in May and June.
The Commission has already published the final electoral rolls in these states as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
In West Bengal, the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress is seeking a fourth consecutive term in power. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has emerged as a formidable opposition force in the last two elections, is aiming to capture power in the politically crucial state for the first time.
Campaigning in the state has already begun to gather momentum, with both the TMC and the BJP trading accusations over the SIR process. On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Kolkata, accusing the TMC of opposing the revision of electoral rolls in order to “shield infiltrators”. The ruling party, however, has alleged that the exercise is being used to carry out the mass deletion of voters’ names.
In Kerala, the CPI(M) is seeking a third consecutive term, banking on the social welfare initiatives of the Pinarayi Vijayan government. However, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is hoping for a comeback, citing anti-incumbency and several controversies—including the Sabarimala gold theft case—that have put the ruling party on the defensive.
In Tamil Nadu, actor Vijay’s entry into electoral politics has added a new dimension to the contest, potentially turning the election into a three-way battle. While the M.K. Stalin-led DMK government hopes to retain power, the AIADMK, which is allied with the BJP, is aiming for a comeback.
In Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is seeking a second term, while the opposition Congress is grappling with internal divisions and the exit of several leaders. In Puducherry, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy’s All India N.R. Congress is aiming for a third term in power, while the opposition DMK is looking to wrest control of the Union Territory.
