New Delhi: Assam, Kerala and West Bengal, politically crucial for both the Congress and the BJP, along with Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry will hold Assembly polls between April 4 and May 16 in a schedule spread across one and a half months. There will be single-day polling in TN, Kerala and Puducherry on May 16, while elections in West Bengal will be in six phases, like in 2011, and in two in Assam.
NOTA gets a symbol
The first phase in West Bengal, to be held in areas affected by Left-wing extremism, will have two polling dates — April 4 and April 11. The other phases will be held on April 17, 21, 25, 30 and May 5. Assam will go to polls in two phases on April 4 and 11. Counting of votes in all the states will be held on May 19, CEC Nasim Zaidi announced on Friday.
The BJP, after being drubbed in Delhi and Bihar is pinning its hopes on Assam, the only state among the four going to polls where it stands some chance of giving the ruling Congress a fight, especially after its alliance with the AGP. The elections will also see for the first time a symbol created by the National School of Design and allotted to the NOTA (None of the above) option that will be placed at the bottom of the list of candidates.
Phase wise
Assam
Two phase polls on April 4 and 11
West Bengal
Six phase polls on April 4 and 11 (under Phase one), 17, 21, 25, 30 and May 5
Single Phase
Elections for Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Assemblies on May 16
May 19: Counting of votes
