Assembly elections LIVE: 33 pc turnout in Kerala till 11 am, 39 pc in Assam, 37 pc in Puducherry
Three-way contest in Kerala, BJP looks for third term in Assam; bypolls across Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Nagaland, and Tripura; results due on May 4
Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry will vote in a single phase to elect their respective assembly members from 7 am to 5 pm today (April 9). The results will be declared on May 4, along with Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, which are scheduled to be held later this month.
Assam, where the BJP seeks a third term, will vote in 126 seats.
In the 140-constituency Kerala Assembly, the contest is three-way, between the CPI(M)-led LDF, the Congress-led UDF, and the BJP-led NDA.
In the 30-seat Puducherry assembly, the AINRC-led coalition under CM N Rangasamy, backed by BJP, will be looking for another term.
Bypolls are also being held in Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland, and Tripura. Key contests include Karnataka’s Davangere South and Bagalkot, and Maharashtra’s Baramati seat, vacant after Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s death. The Bombay High Court has cancelled the Ponda by-election in Goa.
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Follow LIVE updates below:
Live Updates
- 9 April 2026 7:14 AM IST
Assam polls: Key facts
Polling for all 126 Assam assembly constituencies began on Thursday to decide the electoral fate of 722 candidates.
In the high-stakes election, the ruling BJP is aiming for a third consecutive term in office, while the Congress seeks to wrest power after being ousted in 2016.
An electorate of 2.50 crore, including 1.25 crore women and 318 from the third gender, can exercise their franchise in 31,490 polling stations across the state.
Prominent candidates include Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Congress state president Gaurav Gogoi, assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary, Leader of the opposition Debabrata Saikia, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal, Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi, and Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) chief Lurinjyoti Gogoi.
Several cabinet ministers, including the AGP’s Atul Bora and Keshav Mahanta, and the BPF’s Charan Boro are also in the fray.
The Congress has the highest of 99 contestants, followed by the BJP (90), AIUDF (30), NDA allies AGP (26) and BPF (11).
Opposition alliance’s Raijor Dal is contesting in 13, AJP in 10, CPI(M) in 3 and APHLC in 2. Outside the two coalitions, the AAP is contesting in 18 seats, UPPL in 18, TMC 22, JMM 16 and there are 258 independents.
The ruling NDA’s main constituents are the BJP, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bodo Peoples’ Front (BPF) while the opposition alliance comprises the Congress, Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), CPI(M), All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC) and CPI(ML).
- 9 April 2026 7:13 AM IST
Puducherry polls: Key facts
Around 9.50 lakh voters will decide the electoral fate of 294 candidates in the Assembly elections in Puducherry on April 9.
The polling will begin at 7 am in Puducherry and its enclaves of Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam which together have 30 Assembly seats.
The union territory has 1,099 polling stations and of them 209 have been identified as vulnerable.
Thirty polling stations would be managed exclusively by women staff and 15 booths would be operated by young officers. Two polling stations would be operated by persons with disabilities.
The union territory has 24,919 new voters.
Senior citizens and differently-abled voters will be assisted by volunteers at the booths to reach the polling stations to cast their votes and also for their safe return to their homes. Wheelchairs will be available. The election authorities have engaged 2,200 young voters to take care of them.
Of the total 294 candidates contesting the Assembly polls, 40 are women.
Oulgaret, Mudaliarpet, Nellithope and Nettapakkam (reserved) constituencies have 14 candidates each, which is the maximum number of contestants in the April 9 polls.
A nine-member delegation from six countries—Kyrgyz Republic, Ivory Coast, Moldova, Mongolia, Guyana and Bhutan—would familiarise themselves with the polling process in two polling stations on Thursday.
They will visit the booths housed in VOC Government Boys Higher Secondary school in Mission street in the town and also at the Government Middle school in Kizhoor village in Oussudu Assembly constituency. Oussudu (reserved) segment has five contestants.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made at all the polling stations, including installation of surveillance cameras and webcasting facility.
Besides major political parties, newly floated parties are also in the fray.
The NDA comprising AINRC, BJP, AIADMK and LJK faces a challenge from the INDIA bloc comprising the Congress, DMK and the VCK.
While the NDA is fighting to retain its “double engine” governance, the opposition bloc is making a push to regain power in the union territory, focusing on issues of local autonomy and administrative friction.
Actor Vijay's newly formed TVK has emerged as a significant third force fielding candidates across the union territory.
In addition to the two major alliances, candidates of the CPI, CPI(M), Naam Tamizhar Katchi and a few other outfits are also contesting.
Among the political bigwigs in the fray is AINRC leader and Chief Minister N Rangasamy, who is contesting from Thattanchavady and Mangalam segments.
