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ECI Set to Announce Poll Dates for 4 States, Puducherry Today

The Election Commission of India is holding a press conference where it is expected to announce the election schedule for the assemblies of Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. The Commission has recently completed reviews of poll preparedness in these states, focusing on security and electoral rolls. A key change this election is that ECI-nominated police observers, not District Magistrates, will authorize the movement of Central Armed Police Forces. The terms of the respective state assemblies are set to expire between early May and late May 2021.

Key Points: ECI to Announce Election Schedule for 4 States, Puducherry

  • Poll schedule for 4 states & Puducherry
  • Press conference at 4 PM at Vigyan Bhawan
  • ECI reviewed preparedness in all regions
  • New CAPF movement protocol for this election
2 min read

ECI to hold press conference today, likely to announce election schedule for poll-bound states

The Election Commission will likely announce the poll schedule for Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry in a press conference today.

"The Commission will likely announce the poll schedule on Sunday for four states... and one Union Territory, Puducherry. - Report"

New Delhi, March 15

The Election Commission of India will hold a press conference at 4 p.m. on Sunday at New Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan.

During this, the Commission will likely announce the poll schedule on Sunday for four states -- Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu -- and one Union Territory, Puducherry.

After evaluating the election readiness in these states and UT recently, the Commission is ready to finalise the election timetable.

The poll body has actively reviewed poll preparedness for the elections in several states, including West Bengal on March 9, Kerala on March 6, and Tamil Nadu on February 26.

Additionally, the ECI reviewed Assam's poll preparedness in February, focusing on security and electoral rolls.

The Assam Assembly will conclude its term on May 20, whereas the Kerala Assembly will finalise its tenure on May 23.

In Tamil Nadu, the Assembly's term is scheduled to end on May 10, and in West Bengal, it will finish on May 7.

Additionally, the West Bengal Legislative Assembly consists of 294 total seats, Assam consists of 126, Kerala consists of 140, and Tamil Nadu consists of 234. Meanwhile, the Puducherry Legislative Assembly has a total of 33 seats.

The Commission interacted with political parties, ensuring voter protection and assessing Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) deployment.

Until the last elections, District Magistrates, including District Electoral Officers, were authorised to determine the movement of the CAPF before, during, or after the polls while the MCC was in force.

However, this time, as the Commission decided, it will be the ECI-nominated police observers for the polls who will determine the CAPF movements for the respective districts.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
As a voter from Kerala, I'm glad the ECI is taking its time to review preparedness. The change in who controls CAPF movement is interesting - hope it reduces allegations of bias and ensures neutrality. Let the democratic festival begin!
R
Rohit P
West Bengal is going to be the main event, no doubt. 294 seats and a very charged atmosphere. The ECI has a tough job managing security there. Respect to the officials on the ground.
S
Sarah B
Observing from abroad, it's impressive to see the scale and planning involved in Indian elections. The detail in this article about different assembly terms and seat numbers shows how complex the coordination must be. Best of luck to all voters.
V
Vikram M
While I appreciate the ECI's work, I hope they have a solid plan for COVID protocols. Rallies and queues can become super-spreaders if not managed strictly. Health should not be compromised for politics.
K
Karthik V
Good move to centralize CAPF movement decisions with ECI observers. Should prevent any undue influence by local administrations. Now, parties must focus on real issues like jobs and economy, not just rhetoric.

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