Election 2026: Puducherry tops voter turnout with 89.83%, Assam follows with 85.38%, Kerala at 78.03%

Election 2026: Kerala, Assam and Puducherry went to polling today, April 9. The Election Commission of India (ECI) recorded a high voter turnout in the the single-phase Assembly elections in Puducherry, followed by Assam and Kerala.

According to the latest Election Commission data at 7.30 pm, Puducherry recorded the highest turnout of 89.83 per cent among the regions. Assam followed closely with a high of 85.38 per cent polling across its 126 constituencies. Kerala also witnessed a significant participation from the voters with 78.03 per cent voter turnout.

The votes polled in Puducherry, Assam and Kerala Assembly election will be counted on May 4, along with Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The counting of votes polled in bypolls will also be counted on May 4.

Assam and Puducherry surpassed their highest-ever poll-participation today by recording 85.38 per cent and 89.83 per cent, respectively. Previously, the highest poll-participation in Assam and Puducherry was 84.67 per cent (2016 GELA) and 86.19 per cent (2011 GELA), respectively.

As soon as the voting was concluded, the polling officials across all polling booths sealed the electronic voting machine (EVM) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) in booths. EVMs were later taken to strong room.

Assembly election voting was held for 126 seats in Assam, 140 in Kerala, and 30 in Puducherry Union Territory.

Prominent leaders, including Chief Ministers Himanta Biswa Sarma and Pinarayi Vijayan, were among the early voters. Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangaswamy also cast his vote, maintaining his long-standing tradition of riding his motorcycle to the polling booth.

Kerala

In Keralam, over 2.6 crore electors were eligible to decide the fate of 883 candidates across 140 constituencies in these elections. Of the 2,69,53,644 registered voters across Kerala, a total of 1,38,27,319 were women voters. The male voters were recorded at 1,31,26,048. Officials said that there were 277 third-gender voters in the state.

Nearly 4,24,518 voters fell in the 18-19 age group, while 2,04,608 voters were aged 85 years and above. To facilitate safe and secure polling, a total of 30,471 polling stations were set up.

In Kerala, UDF is aiming to unseat the CPI(M)-led LDF government. The BJP has expanded its base and is challenging both the LDF and UDF.

Assam

In Assam, more than 2.5 crore voters were eligible to cast their ballots in the 126-member Assembly. As many as 722 candidates were in the fray in Assam. Of the 2,50,54,463 registered voters, 1,25,31,552 were men and 1,25,22,593 women. Over 300 were transgender voters.

This contest in the northeastern state, largely between the BJP-led NDA and the Congress-led alliance, was marked by acrimony and sharp exchanges.

Puducherry

In Puducherry, 10,14,070 electors were eligible to cast their votes for 30 seats in the Legislative Assembly. The electorate included 5,39,125 female voters, 4,74,788 male voters, and 157 voters belonging to the third gender category. A total of 24,156 voters are in the age group of 18-19 years.

The ruling NDA, which includes the All India NR Congress and the BJP, is being challenged by the Congress-DMK alliance. Actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is seeking to make it triangular.

(With ANI inputs)