India's 2026 Assembly Elections: Five States, 824 Seats, and the Road to 2029

Four Indian states—Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal—as well as the union territory of Puducherry, are scheduled to hold legislative assembly elections in 2026. 824 assembly seats will be decided by the polls, which are overseen by the Election Commission of India. Voting will take place over several dates in April, with results anticipated on May 4. For transparency, voters will use electronic voting machines with paper audit trails. On March 15, 2026, the Model Code of Conduct became operative. Prior to the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, national and regional parties view the elections as a crucial political barometer.

Assam

On April 9, a single phase of the 126-seat assembly election in Assam will take place, with a majority score of 64. After winning in 2016 and 2021, the BJP, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, is running for a third term in a row. The AIUDF, led by Badruddin Ajmal, and the Asom Sonmilito Morcha, a coalition headed by Gaurav Gogoi of the Congress, oppose the ruling NDA. 

Flood control, religious polarization, illegal immigration, corruption, and women's welfare programs are important election issues. Voters may also be influenced by senior Congress leaders defecting to the BJP and the sentiment surrounding singer Zubeen Garg's passing.

Kerala

On April 9, Kerala's 140-seat assembly election will take place in a single phase with a majority score of 71. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan leads the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), which is running for an unprecedented third term in a row. After being in opposition for almost ten years, the United Democratic Front (UDF), led by V.D. Satheesan of Congress, hopes to regain power. 

Under Rajeev Chandrasekhar's leadership, the BJP-led NDA aims to increase its influence in the state. Allegations of corruption, unemployment, administrative performance, and welfare delivery are important election issues. For the most part, the competition is perceived as a direct battle between the LDF and UDF.

Tamil Nadu

On April 23, a single phase of the 234-seat assembly election in Tamil Nadu will take place, with a majority score of 118. With a focus on social justice and welfare policies, the ruling DMK, led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, is running for a second term in a row. After five years, the AIADMK, led by Edappadi K. Palaniswami and allied with K. Annamalai of the BJP, hopes to take back power.

Popular actor Vijay's recently established Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is a significant wildcard that could divide the anti-DMK vote. Unemployment, law and order, corruption, and the consolidation or fragmentation of opposition votes are important issues.

West Bengal

The 294-seat assembly election in West Bengal will take place in two stages on April 23 and April 29, with a majority score of 148. The Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and in power since 2011, is running for a record fourth term in a row. The biggest threat comes from Suvendu Adhikari's BJP, which has been steadily growing in the state.

The 2024 R.G. Kar Medical College rape and murder case, electoral roll disputes, Enforcement Directorate raids on TMC-affiliated organizations, and accusations of illegal immigration are some of the major issues. In what is essentially a fierce battle between the TMC and BJP, the Left Front continues to play a minor role.

Puducherry

The 30-member assembly elections in Puducherry will be conducted in a single phase on April 9, with a majority mark of 16. The current NDA government, headed by Chief Minister N.R. Rangaswamy of AINRC, who is also supported by the BJP, is seeking a second term on the basis of continuity.

The INDIA alliance, formed by Congress leader Velu Narayanasamy and DMK leader Ragavapillai Siva, is seeking to regain power, though they have also witnessed some friction among themselves on issues of seat sharing. Parties such as TVK and VCK will be instrumental in deciding the outcome, as Puducherry has witnessed a thin margin in its elections so far.