The Election Commission has announced the schedule for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, setting the stage for a key political contest in the southern state. With the Model Code of Conduct now in force, political parties are gearing up for the upcoming polls.
Voting in single phase on April 23
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for the 2026 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. The poll body confirmed that the state will go to the polls in a single phase, marking the start of the electoral process in the southern state.
Following the announcement, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into immediate effect, regulating campaign activities and government announcements during the election period.
According to the election commission, polling in Tamil Nadu will take place on April 23, while the counting of votes will be conducted on May 4. The announcement comes as the term of the current Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly is scheduled to end on May 10, 2026. The upcoming election will therefore determine the composition of the next state government.
Election Commission PC Live: Tamil Nadu has around 5 crore eligible voters, says Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.#ElectionCommission #AssemblyElection #GyaneshKumar @ECISVEEP pic.twitter.com/W0O4ddevow
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Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said the commission had conducted detailed reviews of election preparedness during recent visits to poll-bound states, including Tamil Nadu.
According to the poll body, officials assessed various aspects such as electoral roll verification, polling station readiness and security arrangements to ensure smooth conduct of the elections.
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During the visits, the election commission interacted with voters and election officials across the states. The commission also recognised the work of several Booth Level Officers (BLOs) who played an important role in maintaining electoral rolls and facilitating voter services.
Officials also met with young voters, first-time voters and representatives of the SVEEP programme, which focuses on voter awareness and participation.
With the election schedule now announced, political parties are expected to intensify their campaign efforts ahead of the crucial Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu.
