Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and West Bengal in April, May

New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi announced on Thursday that Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will be held in one phase on May 16.

The Chief Election Commissioner also announced that elections in Assam will be held in two phases. The dates of polling will be April 4 and April 11.

Polls in West Bengal will be held in six phases. In the first phase, voting will take place on two dates - April 4 and April 11 as the seats fall under the Naxal affected areas. Voting in third phase on April 17, fourth phase on April 21, fifth phase on April 25, sixth phase on April 30, May 5.

A symbol for NOTA (None of the Above), created by the National School of Design, has also been introduced for these polls, said CEC Zaidi.

Around 17 crore voters will participate in the polls across the five states -- Assam 1.98 crore, Kerala 2.56 crore, Tamil Nadu 5.80 crore, West Bengal 6.55 crore, Puducherry 9, 27,000.

"824 assembly constituencies in 5 states will go to polls," the CEC said.

With the announcement of polling dates, the model code of conduct has come into immediate force. There will be exclusive polling stations for differently-abled voters.

"Photographs of all candidates will be present on the EVMs (electronic voting machines) to eliminate confusion for voters," Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said.

Noting that voters are in the focus of the Commission, Zaidi said all booths will have seven basic facilities and there will also be all-women polling booths.

Mobile squads will have GPS-fitted vehicles and be accompanied by central forces to ensure that they quickly attend to complaints.

Election schedule:

• Assam to vote in two phases on April 4, 11.
• West Bengal to vote in 6 phases - April 4 and 11, 17, 21, 25, 30 and May 5.
• Single phase voting for Kerala on May 16.
• Tamil Nadu to vote in one phase on May 16.
• Puducherry togo to polls on May 16.
• Counting of votes on May 19.