Dance Of Democracy: Streets Abuzz As People Cast Their Votes In Kerala, Assam And Puducherry

As polling for the 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry is underway, voters across 126 constituencies in Assam, 140 in Kerala, and 30 in Puducherry queue up in front of polling booths to exercise their treasured democratic right. With around 5.3 crore people involved in the exercise, a total of 1,906 candidates across the two states and one UT, contest to make a mark with the trust and confidence of the electorate.

Updated on: 9 April 2026 1:17 pm

Published at: 9 April 2026 1:12 pm

Assembly elections voting-woman shows the indelible ink mark

A woman shows the indelible ink mark on her index finger after casting her vote at a polling center during the state election in Guwahati. | Photo: AP/Anupam Nath

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Assembly elections voting-Kerala state election

People queue up to vote outside a polling booth during the Kerala state election in Kochi. | Photo: AP/ R S Iyer

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Puducherry polls: CM Rangasamy casts vote

Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy, in white, leaves after casting vote during the Puducherry Assembly elections, at a polling station in Puducherry. | Photo: PTI/R Senthilkumar

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Nuns pose for photographs with their ink-marked fingers after casting votes during the Puducherry Assembly elections, in Puducherry. | Photo: PTI/R Senthilkumar

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Kerala polls: V Muraleedharan casts vote in Trivandrum

BJP leader and NDA candidate from Kazhakkootam constituency V Muraleedharan and others show their ink-marked fingers after casting votes during the Kerala Assembly elections, in Thiruvananthapuram. | Photo: @BJP4Keralam/X via PTI

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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan casts his vote during the state Assembly elections, at a polling station in Kannur district. | Photo: PTI

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Assembly elections voting-People stand in queue in guwahati

People stand in queue to cast their votes at a polling center during the state election in Guwahati. | Photo: AP/Anupam Nath

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People stand in queue to cast their votes at a polling centre during the Assam state election in Guwahati. | Photo: AP/Anupam Nath

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A woman takes photograph of a group with indelible ink mark on their index fingers as people stand in queue to cast their votes at a polling center during the state election in Guwahati. | Photo: AP/Anupam Nath

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A polling official, right, instructs a woman to leave after she cast her vote at a polling center during the Assam state election in Guwahati. | Photo: AP/Anupam Nath

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Assembly elections voting A woman casts her vote

A woman casts her vote at a polling center during the state election in Guwahati. | Photo: AP/Anupam Nath

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Kerala polls: LoP Satheesan casts vote in Ernakulam

Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly V D Satheesan, his wife Lakshmipriya and daughter Unnimaya show their ink-marked fingers after casting votes during the state Assembly elections, in Ernakulam district. | Photo: PTI

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Assembly elections voting-postal ballot voting

A polling official instructs 96-year-old Jatindra Chandra Nath, left, who prepares to cast his vote ahead of state assembly election using a postal ballot behind a portable screen at his residence in Guwahati, India, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. | Photo: AP/Anupam Nath

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Assembly elections voting-Polling officials

Polling officials travel in a vehicle to help elderly voters cast their votes using postal ballots ahead of the state assembly election in Guwahati, India, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. | Photo: AP/Anupam Nath

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Assembly elections voting-Polling officials carry voting machines

Polling officials carry voting machines and other election material to travel to their polling booths, on the eve of the state election in Garoimari village on the outskirts of Guwahati, India, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. | Photo: AP/Anupam Nath