The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday announced the schedule for Legislative Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and the Union Territory of Puducherry, with polling set to begin on April 9.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into immediate effect across all poll-bound regions.
“I’d like to make clear that the model code of conduct is applicable from now onwards. So actions taken prior to the model code of conduct are the prerogative of the concerned government. But now onwards, the model code of conduct shall be applicable,” Kumar said.
The Commission said voting will take place across nearly 2.19 lakh polling stations with around 25 lakh election officials deployed to conduct the process.
Assam, Kerala and Puducherry will vote in a single phase on April 9. Tamil Nadu will go to polls on April 23, while West Bengal will hold elections in two phases on April 23 and April 29.
Counting of votes for all states and the Union Territory will take place on May 4.
The Chief Election Commissioner said enforcement agencies have been instructed to ensure elections are conducted without inducements or violence.
“Clear directions have been issued to all the enforcement agencies, nearly 24 of them, that elections in these states and UT shall be inducement-free and violence-free. Directions have been issued to the collectors and the SPs that they have to act with complete impartiality and enforce the rule of law,” he said.
The Commission said presiding officers at each polling station will update vote turnout every two hours to improve transparency. The final voting percentage will be displayed immediately after polling based on Form 17C data.
Election observers will be deployed in the poll-bound states and their details will be made public. The Commission also said fake news on social media will be monitored closely.
Postal ballots will be counted two rounds before votes recorded in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Election statistics will be available through the ECI-Net system within 72 hours after counting.
In case of discrepancies between Form 17C data and EVM counts, the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips will be counted for the concerned machines. Losing candidates may also request verification of EVM and VVPAT records after paying the prescribed fee.
Chief Election Commissioner Kumar urged first-time voters to participate actively in the democratic process.
“My dear friends, you are about to step into one of the most important responsibilities of your life, exercising your democratic right, the right to vote. I urge you to participate enthusiastically in this great democratic exercise,” he said.
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