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This year, however, the announcement could see a slight delay due to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Commission is expected to begin its visits to the five states after February 15 to review election preparedness. Ahead of this, lower-level Election Commission officials have already been dispatched to assess ground-level arrangements.
Assembly Elections in 5 key states likely to be announced in March
New Delhi: The Election Commission’s preparations for the upcoming assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry indicate that the poll schedule may be announced in the first week of March. These five states had gone to the polls simultaneously in 2021, with the election dates announced on 26 February.
This year, however, the announcement could see a slight delay due to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Commission is expected to begin its visits to the five states after February 15 to review election preparedness. Ahead of this, lower-level Election Commission officials have already been dispatched to assess ground-level arrangements.
Election Commission engages observers, begins state visits
A team from the Election Commission has already reached Assam, with teams for the remaining states set to depart soon. As part of its preparations, the Commission recently held a briefing with observers who will be deployed during the elections, outlining key precautions and responsibilities.
According to the Commission’s schedule, the final electoral roll for Assam will be published on February 10. Final rolls for West Bengal, Kerala, and Puducherry are due on February 14, while Tamil Nadu’s final roll will be released on February 17. The Commission is expected to formally review election preparedness in each state only after these dates.
The elections in these five states are politically significant. West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala currently have opposition governments, while Assam and Puducherry are governed by NDA-led administrations.
Special Intensive Revision to expand nationwide
Following the completion of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in 12 states after Bihar, the Election Commission is now preparing to roll out the process in the remaining states. These include Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir.
Sources indicate that this expansion of the SIR process may also be announced in March. Additionally, the remaining work related to the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) is expected to be carried out simultaneously in all pending states, with the aim of completing the process by the end of May each year.
