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Assembly polls 2016: Things you may want to know!

By Arundhati Rout

Posted on March 5, 2016

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The assembly elections will be held in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry next month.

The Election Commissions on Friday announced while the polling will be conducted in seven phases in West Bengal and two phases in Assam starting from April 4, the single-phase election will be held in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry on May 16.

The counting will be held on May 19.

Even as these States are now ruled by either Congress or regional parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has kept an eye on the forthcoming polls to do wonders with the Modi magic.

Since the elected members in the State Assemblies elect the Rajya Sabha MPs from their respective States, this Assembly election assumes significance for the BJP as it has a chance to increase its tally in the Upper House of the Parliament.

Here are the things you may like to know.

1. The terms of the Legislative Assemblies due to expire: Tamil Nadu – May 22, West Bengal – May 19, Kerala – May 31, Puducherry – June 2 and Assam – June 5.

2. The total number of assembly seats: West Bengal – 294, Tamil Nadu – 234, Kerala – 140, Puducherry – 30 and Assam – 126.

3. West Bengal will go to polls in seven phases – April 4 (18 seats), April 11 (31 seats), April 17 (56 seats), April 21 (62 seats), April 25 (49 seats), April 30 (53 seats) and May 5 (25 seats). Total voters – 6.55 crore, polling booths – 77,247

4. Two phases in Assam – April 4 (65 seats), April 11 (61 seats). Total voters – 1.98 crore and polling booths – 25,000

5. Single phase election in Tamil Nadu (voters – 5.8 crore, polling booths – 65,616), Kerala (voters – 2.56 crore, polling booths – 21,498) and Puducherry (voters – 9.27 lakh, polling booths – 913) on May 16.

6. For the first time, a symbol for NOTA (None Of The Above) will be provided on ballot papers.

7. More than 17.8 crore voters will exercise their franchise in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.

8. The States are now ruled by non-BJP alliances. While Tamil Nadu is ruled by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), West Bengal is governed by All India Trinamool Congress (AITMC), followed by Kerala United Democratic Front (UDF), Assam Indian National Congress (INC) and Puducherry All India N.R. Congress.

9. Present position of parties in the assemblies: West Bengal – All India Trinamool Congress (AITMC) – 184, Indian National Congress (INC) – 42, Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPIM) – 40, All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) – 11, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) – 7, Communist Party of India (CPI) – 2, Samajwadi Party (SP) – 1, Democratic Socialist Party (DSP(PC) – 1, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) – 3, Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) (SUCI(C) – 1 and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – 0.

10. Tamil Nadu – All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) – 150, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) – 29, CPI(M) – 10, CPI – 09, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MNMK) – 02, Puthiya Tamilakam (PT) – 02 and AIFB – 01, DMK – 23, INC – 05 and Perunthalaivar Makkal Katchi (PMK) – 03.

11. Kerala – CPIM – 44, CPI – 13, Janata Dal (Secular) – 04, NCP – 02, INC – 39, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) – 20, Kerala Congress (M) – 09, Socialist Janatha (Democratic) – 02, Kerala Congress (Jacob) – 01, Kerala Revolutionary Socialist Party (Baby John) (RSP (B)) – 01, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) – 02 and Independent – 02.

12. Assam – Indian National Congress – 79, All India United Democratic Front – 18, Bodoland People’s Front – 12, Asom Gana Parishad – 09, Bharatiya Janata Party – 05, All India Trinamool Congress – 01 and Independents – 02.

13. Puducherry – All India N.R. Congress -15, Indian National Congress – 07, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) – 05, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) – 02 and Independents – 01.

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