Tamil Nadu Election Dates: EC Set To Announce Polling & Counting Dates

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is likely to announce the schedule for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, next week. The declaration will set the stage for what political analysts predict will be a high-stakes multi-cornered contest in the state.

This election has gained a new dimension in Tamil Nadu with the entry of actor-politician Vijay's party, Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK). This development is expected to transform the traditional bipolar rivalry into a triangular fight involving the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the primary opposition, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), which is contesting in alliance with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Ahead of the election notification, the ECI has already completed the electoral roll revision process. According to the final rolls published after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the state has registered 5.67 crore voters. Interestingly, this marks a reduction from the previous count of 6.41 crore, following the completion of the enumeration and cleansing exercise.

Likely Polling Schedule and Key Dates

The poll panel is expected to announce the schedule for all five states heading to elections this season-Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry-in a single press conference. Sources indicate that while Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and the union territory of Puducherry are likely to vote in a single phase, West Bengal and Assam may see polling across multiple days.

The EC is expected to announce the polling and counting days on Monday, March 16.

Reports suggest that polling in Tamil Nadu is tentatively scheduled for the first or second week of April. There is a strong possibility that voting in the southern state could be concluded before Tamil New Year (Puthandu), which falls on April 14. This timeline aligns with the precedent set by the previous election; the 2021 Assembly polls were held on April 6, with the schedule being announced on February 26 of that year.

The voting process this year is expected to be shorter and less staggered compared to the 2021 elections, which were largely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. During the last cycle, extensive health protocols and restrictions necessitated an eight-phase election in West Bengal and three phases in Assam. This time, reports indicate that Bengal may go to polls in just two phases, with the first round likely towards the end of the second week or in the third week of April.

Once the ECI formally announces the dates, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) will be enforced across Tamil Nadu with immediate effect. The enforcement of the MCC will place restrictions on the ruling DMK government, barring it from announcing new schemes, laying foundation stones for projects, or making any policy decisions that could influence voters. The incumbent DMK government, which assumed office on May 7, 2021, will effectively function in a caretaker mode until the new government is sworn in following the election results.

All eyes are now on the ECI's official announcement, which will formally kick-start the election campaign in the state.