New Delhi: Voting for the 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala, Assam and the Union Territory of Puducherry began on Thursday morning amid tight security arrangements, with early voter turnout figures indicating steady participation across the three regions.
Till 11 am, Assam recorded 38.92% polling. The turnout was 37% in Puducherry and 33.30% in Kerala, according to Hindustan Times.
Polling started at 7 am and will continue until the evening, with more than 5.3 crore voters eligible to exercise their franchise across 296 Assembly constituencies combined. These include 140 seats in Kerala, 126 in Assam and 30 in Puducherry.
The elections are being closely watched as they are expected to influence the political landscape both regionally and nationally. In Kerala, the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) is aiming for another term, while the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is attempting to regain power.
In Assam, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance faces a strong challenge from the Congress and its allies in what is expected to be a closely contested election across all 126 constituencies.
Meanwhile, in Puducherry, key regional and national parties are competing for control of the 30-member Assembly, with development, employment and governance emerging as major campaign issues.
Authorities have deployed extensive security personnel and introduced special arrangements such as accessible polling stations and assistance for elderly and differently-abled voters to ensure smooth voting.
Webcasting facilities, large-scale deployment of polling staff and surveillance measures have also been put in place to maintain transparency and security during the electoral process.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters in the three regions to participate in large numbers, emphasising that every vote plays an important role in strengthening democracy.
The counting of votes for all three Assemblies is scheduled for May 4.
