Our Bureau
New Delhi
Voters turned out in huge numbers on Thursday for the 2026 Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry. Polling started at 7 AM and ended at 6 PM across 126 seats in Assam, 140 seats in Kerala, and 30 seats in Puducherry.
Early trends at 9 AM had Assam at 17.87%, Kerala at 16.23%, and Puducherry at 17.41%; by 11 AM, they rose to 38.92% in Assam, 33.28% in Kerala, and 37.06% in Puducherry.
By 1 PM, turnout reached 59.6% in Assam, 47.3% in Kerala, and 56.8% in Puducherry, showing strong public interest. Figures climbed higher by 3 PM, with Assam at 75.91%, Kerala at 62.71%, and Puducherry at 72.40%. At 5 PM, Puducherry led with 86.92%, followed by Assam at 84.42% and Kerala at 75.01%.
Final numbers after polls closed showed even bigger participation: over 85% in Assam, more than 77% in Kerala, and a massive 89%+ in Puducherry.
In Assam, 722 candidates fought for 126 seats, pitting Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s BJP against Congress led by Gaurav Gogoi. Kerala’s 2.71 crore voters chose among 883 candidates in 140 seats, mainly Left Democratic Front under CM Pinarayi Vijayan versus United Democratic Front. Puducherry’s 9.5 lakh voters decided for 294 candidates across 30 seats, with NDA aiming to hold power against INDIA bloc.
Election Commission officials reported smooth voting with tight security as high turnout signals an active participation by voters in these states.
