New Delhi, 09 April (H.S.):

Voting is underway across all Assembly constituencies in Assam, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry, with the Election Commission reporting a turnout of 59.63 per cent in Assam, 49.70 per cent in Kerala and 56.83 per cent in Puducherry by 1 p.m. on polling day.

Polling began at 7 a.m. across the three regions and will continue until 5 p.m. in Assam and 6 p.m. in Kerala and Puducherry.

Steady rise in voter turnout

By 11 a.m., Assam had recorded 38.92 per cent turnout, Kerala 33.28 per cent and Puducherry 37.06 per cent, indicating a steady build‑up of voters as the day progressed.

At 9 a.m., the figures stood at 17.87 per cent in Assam, 16.23 per cent in Kerala and 17.41 per cent in Puducherry, reflecting strong early participation despite inclement weather in parts of Assam.

In Assam, turnout varied across districts, with several recording around the 40 per cent mark by mid‑afternoon, underscoring broad‑based engagement in the state‑wide contest.

In Kerala, the pace of voting remained broadly balanced across districts, with turnout clustering between roughly 31 and 35 per cent by 11 a.m.

Polling in Puducherry also witnessed energetic voter turnout, with residents turning out enthusiastically at booths across the UT.

Electoral magnitude and security measures

The Election Commission has made extensive arrangements to ensure free, fair and peaceful polls, deploying thousands of police personnel and central forces at sensitive locations.

Webcasting and drone‑based surveillance are being used in vulnerable areas to monitor polling‑day activities, while special support has been provided for first‑time voters, senior citizens and differently‑abled electors.

Voters above the age of 85 have been offered home‑voting facilities, and transport arrangements have been made to help them reach polling stations if they choose to vote in person.

In all, the three regions together have 296 Assembly seats and over 5.3 crore registered voters, including a large number of first‑time voters and women.

Contest in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry

Assam

Assam’s 126 Assembly seats are seeing a multi‑cornered contest involving 722 candidates from 41 parties, including 59 women candidates. The state’s electorate numbers around 2.5 crore, and the poll is being held across 31,490 polling stations.

This is the first major Assembly election in Assam following the 2023 delimitation, with the BJP seeking to retain power and the Congress attempting a comeback after a period of decline.

Kerala

In Kerala, the 140‑seat Assembly vote is shaping up as a triangular contest between the CPI‑M‑led Left Democratic Front (LDF), the Congress‑led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the BJP‑led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The LDF, under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, is aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive term, while the UDF and NDA are vying to capitalise on anti‑incumbency and shifting voter preferences.

Puducherry

Puducherry’s 30 Assembly seats are witnessing a battle among 294 candidates, with the ruling alliance headed by the All India N. R. Congress (AINRC) under Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, which enjoys the support of the BJP.

A total of 1,099 polling stations have been set up in the Union Territory, with EVMs, control units and VVPAT machines fully deployed along with contingency machines kept in reserve to handle any technical failures.

The day’s turnout pattern so far signals robust voter enthusiasm in all three regions, setting the stage for a closely watched verdict in one of the key Assembly elections of the 2026 cycle.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar