Polling Day Is Here: Assam, Kerala and Puducherry Vote Today, April 9, 2026

Polling Day Is Here: Assam, Kerala and Puducherry Vote Today, April 9, 2026

Today is the day. After weeks of campaigning, thousands of rallies, hundreds of candidate lists, exit poll speculation, and the noise of India's incredible democratic machine, the voters of Assam, Kerala and Puducherry finally have their say.

Polling booths opened at 7 AM this morning across all three states and the union territory. They will close at 6 PM. And when the last booth shuts and the last vote is cast, India will wait until May 4 to know what the people decided. But the decision is being made today, in millions of quiet, individual moments when a voter stands in a booth, looks at a ballot, and chooses.

Bharat and Beyond is with you throughout polling day. Here is everything you need to know.

The Numbers Voting Today

Assam: 126 constituencies across the state. Over 2.49 crore voters eligible to cast their ballot. Single phase. Every seat voted today.

Kerala: 140 constituencies across 14 districts. Over 2.69 crore voters eligible. Single phase. The most watched election in south India today.

Puducherry: 30 constituencies across four geographically separated enclaves. 9,44,211 voters eligible. Single phase. The smallest but not the least dramatic contest of the day.

Total across all three: over 296 constituencies. Over 5.2 crore voters. One day. One giant democratic exercise.

The Election Commission has declared today a paid holiday for all employees in poll-going states. No deduction of wages shall be made on account of this holiday, and any employer who contravenes the provisions shall be liable to a fine.  So if you are in Assam, Kerala, or Puducherry and you are a voter, there is absolutely no excuse. Go and cast your vote today.

What Is at Stake in Each State

In Assam, history is at stake. No party has won three consecutive assembly terms in modern Assam. Himanta Biswa Sarma is attempting to do exactly that. He is contesting from his Jalukbari fortress for the sixth straight time since 2001. The Congress-led Asom Sonmilito Morcha under Gaurav Gogoi is hoping that the historical pattern reasserts itself and that voters decide ten years of one party is enough.

Assam rarely votes uniformly. Instead it is like several sub-regions voting simultaneously. Upper Assam, Lower Assam, the Barak Valley, and the Bodoland Territorial Council areas all have distinct voter dynamics. Different demographic blocs play a significant role in deciding the outcome. 

The question in Assam today is not just about seats. It is about whether Himanta's aggressive, assertive style of governance, which simultaneously attracts fierce admiration and fierce criticism, represents the majority view of the Assamese voter. Today they answer.

In Kerala, a historic record is at stake. The LDF under Pinarayi Vijayan is trying to win a third consecutive term, something no political front has ever achieved in Kerala's post-independence history. The UDF under V.D. Satheesan, energised by a strong Lok Sabha showing in 2024, believes this is their time. And BJP under Rajeev Chandrasekhar is attempting to break into double digits for the first time, having won maximum one seat in any previous Kerala assembly election.

Kerala has traditionally delivered decisive mandates, often swinging clearly between the two fronts. This time, the data suggests a more fragmented and competitive landscape, where voter preferences are finely balanced. For the LDF, the challenge is to overcome anti-incumbency and convert its governance record into electoral support. Having already made history by returning to power for a second consecutive term, it is now attempting to secure a rare third term. 

In Puducherry, a relatively quiet but genuinely competitive contest is underway. N. Rangasamy wants a fifth Chief Ministerial term. Congress wants to reclaim a territory it once governed comfortably. And TVK under Vijay is contesting all 30 seats in its first ever election anywhere in India, using Puducherry as the very first test of whether the new party has real organisational weight or just star power.

Key Constituencies to Watch

In Assam, Jalukbari is the most watched seat. This is where Himanta Biswa Sarma votes and where he wins. Congress candidate Bidisha Neog has been positioned against him. Every percentage point Neog gains or loses against Sarma will be read as a measure of the CM's personal mandate.

Jorhat is the second most watched Assam seat. BJP has fielded sitting Lok Sabha MP Hitendra Nath Goswami directly against state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi. A Gogoi win here would be the opposition's single most significant symbolic result. A BJP win would silence Congress's confidence narrative immediately.

In Kerala, Nemom in Thiruvananthapuram is where BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar is contesting. This is BJP's one seat they have won before and the one they absolutely must hold. The constituency has high visibility and the result here will set the tone for how BJP's Kerala story is written in 2026.

Dharmadam is where Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan contests. A safe seat for him, but opposition parties have fielded credible candidates here as a statement. BJP organised a mega adalat in Dharmadam before the election, forcing the CM to campaign harder in his own seat than he would have wished.

Palakkad and Thrissur are the districts where BJP has its best realistic chances of winning multiple seats besides Thiruvananthapuram. Early trends from these constituencies will tell you quickly whether BJP's much-discussed Kerala breakthrough is happening or falling short.

In Puducherry, Raj Bhavan constituency in the heart of the union territory capital is where BJP state president VP Ramalingam is contesting. Perambur-level interest. High visibility. A bellwether for how BJP's Puducherry campaign has translated on the ground.

What the Opinion Polls Said

Bharat and Beyond presents the pre-poll picture honestly. Surveys suggested the following:

For Assam: BJP-NDA likely to win 65 to 75 seats and form the government, though with a smaller majority than 2021.

For Kerala: Most surveys gave UDF a narrow lead of 69 to 81 seats, LDF at 57 to 69, and BJP at 1 to 5 seats. However one major survey gave LDF 104 to 120 seats. The range is huge and reflects genuine uncertainty.

For Puducherry: Too close to call. NDA and Congress-DMK alliance both competitive for the 16-seat majority mark.

Polls are not results. Exit polls will be released on April 29 after West Bengal's Phase 2 polling closes. Actual results come on May 4. Everything between now and then is speculation.

How to Follow Polling Day Updates

For official voter turnout updates, follow the Election Commission