Guwahati: The Election Commission of India on Sunday announced that the 2026 Assembly elections in Assam will be held in a single phase on April 9, covering all 126 constituencies across the state.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar made the announcement during a press conference at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. He said the decision to conduct polling across the state on a single day followed a comprehensive review of the security situation and the preparedness of the election machinery.
“Our objective is to conduct a swift, inclusive and peaceful election,” Kumar said while announcing the schedule.
As per the timeline released by the Commission, the gazette notification will be issued on March 16, while the last date for filing nominations is March 23. Scrutiny of nomination papers will be held on March 24, and candidates will have until March 26 to withdraw their nominations.
The move to hold the election in a single phase marks a shift from the 2021 Assembly polls, which were conducted in three phases. The Commission said improved logistical arrangements and the “purification” of electoral rolls have enabled the adoption of a single-day polling format.
Highlighting the importance of credible voter lists, Kumar said accurate electoral rolls form the backbone of a democratic system. He noted that a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the rolls was conducted under Article 326 of the Constitution to ensure that every eligible voter is included while ineligible names are removed.
The CEC also commended the efforts of Booth Level Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, District Election Officers and other election officials, describing the exercise of revising electoral rolls as a major democratic undertaking.
Ahead of the announcement, the Commission visited all the poll-bound states, including Assam, to review preparations. During these visits, it held consultations with recognised political parties and sought suggestions regarding the conduct of the elections.
Kumar said the Commission also met District Electoral Officers, Superintendents of Police, Inspectors General, Deputy Inspectors General and nodal officers of enforcement agencies to review law-and-order preparedness. Separate meetings were also held with Chief Electoral Officers, Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police of the concerned states and the union territory.
Addressing voters in the poll-bound regions — Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, Kumar said the consultations were aimed at ensuring smooth and credible elections across the regions.
The Commission said more than 2.18 lakh polling stations will be set up across the five regions, most of them located in rural areas. The average number of electors per polling station has been kept below 900.
The poll body also announced that 100 per cent webcasting will be implemented at polling stations. Model polling stations, booths managed by women and polling stations run by persons with disabilities (divyang) will also be established.
Kumar noted that the electorate includes a significant number of voters aged 85 and above, as well as centenarians registered across all the poll-bound regions, including Assam.
With the announcement of the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has come into immediate effect across the state.
The counting of votes will be held on May 4, alongside the Assembly elections in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and West Bengal.
With the polling date now fixed, the political atmosphere in Assam is expected to intensify as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance and the opposition Asom Sonmilito Morcha prepare for a single-day political showdown.