The Election Commission on Friday convened a press conference on Friday to announce the schedule for Assembly polls in four states — West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and for Union Territory Puducherry.
In West Bengal, elections will be held in six phases. The first phase will be held on April 4 and 11. Voting for the remaining phases will be conducted on April 17, 21, 25, 30 and May 5.
Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will go to polls on May 16.
Counting of votes will be held on May 19.
The Election Commission expects to complete the poll process by May 21.
Over 17 crore voters will exercise their franchise in 824 constituencies.
The terms of the five Assemblies are ending in April and May.
The Election Commission said that the model code of conduct comes into force with immediate effect in Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, and Puducherry.
It said that a strengthened mechanism is in place to check instances of paid news. Over 17 crore voters will exercise their franchise in 824 constituencies.
New voters can be enrolled until 10 days from the last date of nomination, Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said in New Delhi.
The Election Commission will be setting up special polling station at leprosy treatment centres this time.
For the first time a symbol for NOTA is being provided, which is designed by NID, Ahmedabad.
The photographs of all candidates will be present on the EVMs to eliminate confusion for voters, Zaidi said.
The CEC has asked all voters to check if their names are available in the electoral rolls.
In West Bengal and Assam, all polling stations will be manned by central police forces, as far as possible, the EC said.
Every district will have five central observers to monitor action against criminal elements for peaceful election, polling stations.
All-women polling stations will be set up in these five states.
The Election Commission has asked officials linked to poll-work to declare whether any of their relatives are contesting in polls.
West Bengal
Number of constituentices: 294
Date of Issue of Gazette Notification: March 11, 14
Last Date for Nominations: March 18, 21
Date for Scrutiny of Nominations: March 19, 21
Last date for withdrawal of candidatures: March 21, 26
Date of poll: April 4, 11
Assam
Number of constituencies: 126
Date of Issue of Gazette Notification: March 11, 14
Last Date for Nominations: March 18, 21
Date for Scrutiny of Nominations: March 19, 22
Last date for withdrawal of candidatures: March 21, 26
Date of poll: April 4, 11
Kerala
Number of constituencies: 140
Date of Issue of Gazette Notification: April 22
Last Date for Nominations: April 29
Date for Scrutiny of Nominations: April 30
Last date for withdrawal of candidatures: May 2
Date of poll: May 16
Tamil Nadu
Number of constituencies: 234
Date of Issue of Gazette Notification: April 22
Last Date for Nominations: April 29
Date for Scrutiny of Nominations: April 30
Last date for withdrawal of candidatures: May 2
Date of poll: May 16
Puducherry
Number of constituencies: 30
Date of Issue of Gazette Notification: April 22
Last Date for Nominations: April 29
Date for Scrutiny of Nominations: April 30
Last date for withdrawal of candidatures: May 2
Date of poll: May 16