New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates for Assembly elections in five states and one Union Territory across the country on Sunday.
While Assam, Kerala and Puducherry will go to the polls on April 9, elections will be held in Tamil Nadu on April 23.
In West Bengal, elections will be held in two phases for the 294 seat Assembly. While 152 seats will go to the polls on April 23, elections in the remaining 142 will be held on May 29.
Counting of votes for all four states and the Union Territory of Puducherry will take place on May 4, chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced.
Defending the Special Intensive Review (SIR) exercise that took, Kumar said that it was important to ensure that no eligible voter is left out and no ineligible one is included.
These elections in the four states and one UT will involve 17.4 crore voters. There will be 2.18 lakh polling stations. As many as 25 lakh polling officials have been deployed for free and fair conduct of the elections, Kumar said.
He also highlighted special arrangements made for senior citizens and the specially abled. Every polling station will have drinking water facilities, toilets and ramps. There will also be wheelchairs with attendants to take care of people who are unable to walk.
Kumar also appealed to first-time voters to come out in large numbers and cast their votes.
