New Delhi: Campaigning ended in Kerala, Assam and Puducherry, with voting set on Thursday for 296 seats. Officials received EVMs and other materials ahead of voting. Tamil Nadu votes on April 23, West Bengal on April 23 and 29 in two phases.

Polling will cover 140 seats in Kerala, 126 in Assam and 30 in Puducherry, with counting scheduled for May 4. A total of 1,849 candidates are in the fray, with key contests shaped by sharp political exchanges, development narratives and leadership face-offs.

In Kerala, the fight is primarily between the CPI(M)-led LDF, Congress-led UDF and BJP-led NDA, with top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan leading campaigns.

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