April 8, 2026
Assam, Kerala and Puducherry entered a 48-hour silence period on Tuesday evening as final preparations wrapped up ahead of single-phase voting on Thursday. The Election Commission of India imposed the blackout to bar public meetings, rallies and processions, and prohibited opinion polls as well as targeted voter outreach through electronic media, social platforms, bulk SMS or calls. Televised display of opinion polls and survey results was also banned. Election materials, including electronic voting machines, were handed to polling teams while officers completed logistics and briefings at polling stations.
Polling is scheduled for 126 constituencies in Assam, 140 in Kerala and 30 in Puducherry. Central armed police units, including the CRPF, have been deployed to secure booth locations. Officials said polling staff had been instructed on procedures and contingency arrangements finalized.
Officials described a busy contest: Assam was said to have about 250 million voters facing 722 candidates, Kerala about 27 million eligible voters with 890 candidates, and Puducherry an electorate of roughly 950,000 with 294 candidates competing. Assam’s Chief Electoral Officer, Anurag Goel, urged strict compliance with ECI directives and warned that violations would attract penal action.
Tensions surfaced as campaigning wound down in parts of Kerala. In Kannur, a clash between workers from the Left Democratic Front and the United Democratic Front left six people injured. The Election Commission and local police said they were monitoring the situation and would act where necessary.
National context and related developments
Markets rallied and policy signals added to the broader backdrop as the states prepared to vote. Indian stock indices jumped more than 3% on Wednesday after international news of a ceasefire, with the Nifty 50 opening up about 3.58% and the Sensex rising roughly 3.74% at the bell. The Reserve Bank of India kept the benchmark repo rate unchanged at 5.25%; its six-member Monetary Policy Committee voted unanimously to hold rates. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra cautioned about risks from global trade disruptions linked to the Middle East but said India’s economic fundamentals were resilient, with the bank projecting GDP growth of 6.9%.
New Delhi formally welcomed a two-week ceasefire announced by the US, Israel and Iran, urging de-escalation, diplomacy and unimpeded navigation and trade through the Strait of Hormuz. The government said the pause could help restore stability that has disrupted energy supplies and trade routes. In Tehran, India’s embassy issued advisories asking Indian nationals to leave Iran promptly and to coordinate with the embassy on safe routes, following earlier guidance to shelter in place.
Energy and border developments
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 that was bought by state-run Indian Oil, with refiners reportedly buying Iranian oil amid wider supply disruptions.
Separately, the Border Security Force has been asked to study whether reptiles such as snakes and crocodiles could be used as natural deterrents 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, targets unfenced, flood-prone delta areas where conventional fencing is ineffective. Officials noted practical and safety challenges, including procurement and the possible impact on riverside communities, and asked field units to report on feasibility.
Diplomacy
Bilateral ties with Dhaka have been strained since the 2024 ouster of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her subsequent flight to India. Last year’s extension of border fencing also drew criticism from Bangladesh. On Wednesday, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman visited New Delhi — the most senior visit from Dhaka in two years — as both sides signalled interest in resetting relations.
Outlook
With polling teams in place and security deployments active, attention turns to Thursday’s voting and the integrity of the process. Observers will also watch whether recent international developments — the Middle East ceasefire, renewed oil flows and economic signals — shape political and economic narratives as results approach.