April 8, 2026
After a high-octane campaign, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry entered a 48-hour silence period ahead of single-phase voting on Thursday, as authorities completed final preparations for polling across the three regions.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) imposed the silence period on Tuesday evening, banning public meetings, rallies, processions, opinion polls and targeted voter outreach via electronic media, social platforms, bulk SMS or calls. Display of opinion polls and survey results on television is also barred. Election materials, including electronic voting machines (EVMs), were handed over to polling personnel as officers prepared polling stations.
Polling will be held in 126 constituencies in Assam, 140 in Kerala and 30 in Puducherry. Authorities said polling staff were briefed and logistics finalised. Central armed police forces, including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), were deployed to ensure security at booths.
Assam faces a crowded contest: officials said some 250 million voters will cast ballots for 722 candidates, while Kerala has 27 million eligible voters and 890 candidates. Puducherry’s electorate is about 950,000, with 294 candidates in the fray. The state Chief Electoral Officer in Assam, Anurag Goel, urged strict adherence to ECI guidelines and warned that violations would invite penal action.
Tensions flared as campaigning ended in parts of Kerala: six people were injured in a clash between Left Democratic Front (LDF) and United Democratic Front (UDF) workers in Kannur on Tuesday. The ECI and local police said they were monitoring the situation and would take action where warranted.
National context and related developments
India’s stock markets surged over 3% on Wednesday amid international developments: a ceasefire agreement involving the US and Iran prompted a broad market rally. The Nifty 50 opened up 3.58% and the Sensex rose about 3.74% at the bell. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept the benchmark repo rate unchanged at 5.25%, with its six-member Monetary Policy Committee voting unanimously to hold rates. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra warned of risks from global trade disruptions tied to the Middle East conflict but said India’s economic fundamentals offered resilience; the bank projected GDP growth of 6.9%.
India formally welcomed the two-week ceasefire announced by the US, Israel and Iran, calling for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy and urging unimpeded navigation and trade through the Strait of Hormuz. The foreign ministry said the ceasefire could help restore stability that has disrupted energy supplies and trade networks.
In a related development, India’s embassy in Tehran issued advisories urging Indian nationals to “expeditiously exit” Iran and to coordinate with the embassy on safe routes, following earlier guidance to shelter in place. The move came hours after the ceasefire announcement.
Energy and border moves
Against the backdrop of supply concerns from the Middle East, Reuters reported that India is set to receive its first Iranian oil cargo in seven years, after temporary US relief on sanctions for Iranian oil and refined products. Ship tracking data cited in the report indicated a vessel carrying crude to India, bought by state-run Indian Oil; refiners have reportedly purchased Iranian oil amid wider supply disruptions.
Separately, India has reportedly asked Border Security Force (BSF) units to explore the feasibility of deploying reptiles — snakes and crocodiles — as “natural deterrents” to prevent unauthorised crossings along vulnerable riverine stretches of the more-than-4,000-kilometre border with Bangladesh. A BSF deputy inspector general said the idea, discussed with the Home Ministry, would target unfenced and flood-prone delta areas where traditional fencing is ineffective. Officials noted practical and safety challenges, including procurement and the potential impact on riverside communities; field units were asked to study feasibility and report back.
Diplomacy
Relations with Dhaka have been tense since the ouster of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024, which strained ties after her flight to India. Last year’s extension of border fencing drew criticism from Bangladesh. On Wednesday, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman visited New Delhi — the most senior Dhaka visit in two years — as both countries signalled interest in resetting relations.
Outlook
With poll workers and security forces in place and the silence period active, the focus in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry shifts to Thursday’s voting and the final integrity of the process. Observers will also watch how international developments — the Iran ceasefire, oil flows and economic indicators — may influence political and economic narratives in the run-up to results.