Polling officials seal the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) andVoter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units after voting in the Assam Assembly elections, in Tamulpur, on Thursday, April 9. PTI
Assembly elections LIVE: Assam, Kerala and Puducherry see high turnout
Puducherry tops with over 89.87 turnout, followed by Assam at 85.58 per cent and Kerala at 78.20%, as per the Election Commission's latest data
Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry voted in a single phase to elect their respective Assembly members from 7 am to 5 pm today (April 9). The results will be declared on May 4, along with Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, which are scheduled to be held later this month.
Assam, where the BJP seeks a third consecutive term, voted in 126 seats.
In the 140-constituency Kerala Assembly, the contest is three-way (at least in some constituencies), between the CPI(M)-led LDF, the Congress-led UDF, and the BJP-led NDA. The Left is seeking a hat-trick in Kerala.
In the 30-seat Puducherry assembly, the AINRC-led coalition under CM N Rangasamy, backed by BJP, is looking for a successive term.
Bypolls in four seats, one gets scrapped
Bypolls are also being held during the day in Karnataka (two seats), Nagaland (one), and Tripura (one). The Bombay High Court cancelled the Ponda by-election in Goa on the eve of the voting, stating that it was not required as the remaining term of the Goa Assembly is less than a year. Goa heads to the Assembly polls in early 2027.
Also read:
Kerala polls: Ear to the ground says UDF-LDF race is too close to call
'Outsider' influx row rocks Assam polls: Opposition warns of 'Bihar-style vote chori'
Assam election saw industrial-scale AI disinformation campaign: Report
In buses arranged by parties, voters in Bengaluru head to Kerala in hordes
A defeat won't break Left in Kerala, but it could shatter Congress
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Live Updates
- 9 April 2026 11:41 AM IST
Kerala: District-wise turnout
District wise polling percentage:
Kasaragod – 16.50%Kannur – 17.45%Wayanad – 16.77%Kozhikode – 17.68%Malappuram – 16.89%Palakkad – 17.74%Thrissur – 17.26%Ernakulam – 17.80%Idukki – 16.97%Kottayam – 20.45%Alappuzha – 21.35%Pathanamthitta – 20.87%Kollam – 16.04%Thiruvananthapuram – 16.25%Overall polling: 20.69% - 9 April 2026 11:33 AM IST
Nagaland bypoll: Nearly 20 pc voter turnout till 9 am
Nearly 20 per cent of 22,382 electors exercised their franchise in Nagaland's Koridang Assembly bypoll in the first two hours of polling on Thursday, officials said.
The byelection was necessitated by the demise of sitting BJP MLA Imkong L. Imchen in November last year.
- 9 April 2026 11:31 AM IST
Modi, Nabin urge people of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry to vote in large numbers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday appealed to the people of Assam, Kerala and Puducherry to exercise their franchise in large numbers in the assembly elections in the two states and the Union Territory.
PM Modi particularly requested the youth and the women to step forward and vote in large numbers. “As polling begins for the Assam Assembly elections 2026, I appeal to the people of Assam to exercise their franchise in large numbers. I hope that the state's youth and women voters participate enthusiastically and make this election a celebration of democracy and public duty,” he said in a post on X.
Calling upon the people of Kerala to vote in large numbers, the prime minister said the record participation in the voting will add vigour to Kerala's democratic spirit. "I particularly request the youth and women of the state to step forward and vote in large numbers," he said.
PM Modi also urged every voter in Puducherry to come out and participate in record numbers. "I especially appeal to our youth and to women voters to strengthen the process of democracy. Every vote matters in shaping the future of Puducherry," he said.
BJP national president Nitin Nabin also urged the people of Assam, Kerala and Puducherry to come out in large numbers and vote for progress and development.
Reaching out to the people of Assam, Nabin in a post on X said, "Your votes will be decisive not only in ensuring the security of Assam's 'land, daughters, and livelihood' but also in keeping the state free from infiltration and instability.
"Today is the day of resolve for Assam's progress and development. Your participation is absolutely essential to take the journey of development that has begun to the goal of 'Viksit Assam'," the BJP chief said, adding, "I urge all the people of the state, especially my young friends, to participate enthusiastically in this grand festival of democracy and to vote in the largest possible numbers."
In his message to the people of Kerala, Nabin said it's time to ensure that the state moves forward on the path of progress and inclusive growth.
"Your vote is the power to build a corruption-free, development-oriented, and appeasement-free government. It is time to ensure that Keralam moves forward on the path of progress and inclusive growth," he said.
"Today is a decisive day for the future of Keralam. I appeal to all my brothers and sisters, especially my young friends and first-time voters, to step out in large numbers and participate in this festival of democracy," Nabin said, adding, "Let your voice be heard for a stronger, safer, and 'Vikasita Keralam'." The BJP chief also urged the people of Puducherry to exercise their democratic right and vote in "record numbers".
"Your participation is vital to ensuring a stable, corruption-free, and progressive government. Every vote counts in shaping a brighter and more prosperous future for the region," Nabin said, adding, "Vote for progress. Vote for a 'Viksit Puducherry'."
- 9 April 2026 10:44 AM IST
Puducherry records 17.41 per cent voter turnout till 9 am
Puducherry registered 17.41 per cent voter turnout by 9 am on Thursday as polling commenced in all 30 assembly constituencies.
Key figures, including Lt Governor Kailashnathan, Chief Minister N Rangasamy, Home Minister A Namassivayam and Congress leader V Narayanasamy were among the early voters to exercise their franchise.
- 9 April 2026 10:29 AM IST
Assam: 18 pc voter turnout in first two hours
A voter turnout of 17.87 per cent was recorded in the first two hours of the assembly elections in Assam, where the BJP-led NDA is seeking a third consecutive term in power, while the Congress is striving to reclaim a state it lost a decade ago.
The river island of Majuli recorded the highest turnout in the first two hours at 20.03 per cent, while Tamulpur in the Bodoland Territorial Region witnessed the lowest at 15.32 per cent. - 9 April 2026 10:29 AM IST
Kerala: Over 16 pc voter turnout recorded till 9 am
Polling in the Kerala Assembly elections saw a turnout of over 16 per cent after the first two hours of voting on Thursday.
According to Election Commission (EC) figures, polling till 9 am recorded a turnout of 16.23 per cent with the highest being in Ernakulam district with 17.8 per cent.
Constituency-wise, the highest polling percentage till 9 am was seen in Thripunithura with 20.59 per cent, according to EC data.
