The Election Commission of India will announce the schedule for the upcoming Assembly elections in five regions on Sunday. The announcement will cover West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam and the union territory of Puducherry.

The poll body has scheduled a press conference at 4 pm to release the detailed election timeline.

These Assembly elections are necessary because the terms of the current legislatures in these regions will expire in May and June. According to Indian election laws, the Commission must complete the voting process before the existing assemblies finish their terms.

Electoral Rolls Updated Ahead of Polls

Before announcing the election dates, the Commission carried out a special revision of voter lists in the poll-bound regions. Officials have already completed the process and published the final electoral rolls.

This revision ensures that the latest list of eligible voters is ready before polling begins.

Key Meeting Held in New Delhi

Earlier this week, the Commission held an important meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday (March 11) to finalise the election programme and the phase-wise voting plan.

During the meeting, officials discussed security arrangements, the number of polling phases and logistical preparations for conducting the elections across the five regions.

The Commission also examined field reports from election authorities and observers who reviewed the situation on the ground.

A senior official earlier said, “The Commission will meet on Wednesday to assess field reports submitted by state election machinery and central observers and take a final call on the number of polling phases, deployment of security forces and the detailed election schedule for all five regions.”

Top Election Officials Reviewed Preparedness

The full bench of the Election Commission led the preparations. The team was headed by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.

They returned to the national capital on Tuesday night after conducting an extensive review of election readiness across several states. The officials examined security arrangements, administrative preparedness and logistical planning required for smooth voting.

West Bengal Visit Concludes Nationwide Review

The Commission’s visit to West Bengal marked the final stage of its nationwide inspection before the elections.

During the trip, the poll panel met senior government officials, police officers, district magistrates and representatives of various political parties. These discussions focused on evaluating how prepared the state machinery is for the upcoming polls.

Similar Reviews Held in Other States

The Election Commission conducted similar meetings earlier in Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. These meetings form part of the Commission’s routine pre-election process. They help the poll body assess administrative readiness, security needs and logistical planning before announcing the official election schedule.

With preparations now complete, the Commission is set to reveal the full polling timetable for the five regions later on Sunday.