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“All necessary steps have been taken to facilitate smooth voting and ensure transparency,” an Election Commission official said, adding that special provisions were made for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and first-time voters. The elections come after an intense campaign that concluded earlier this week, with political parties making last-minute appeals to voters.

The results will be declared on May 4 along with outcomes from West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, where polling is being held in multiple phases.

In Assam, the contest is largely bipolar, with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance seeking a third consecutive term under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The Congress-led opposition, spearheaded by Gaurav Gogoi, is aiming to return to power after ten years, while regional players such as the All India United Democratic Front, Raijor Dal and Assam Jatiya Parishad are expected to influence outcomes in several seats. The state has over 2.5 crore voters and 722 candidates contesting across more than 31,000 polling stations.

Kerala is witnessing a tightly fought battle among 883 candidates, with 2.71 crore voters deciding the fate of the ruling Left Democratic Front, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, which is seeking an unprecedented third straight term. The Congress-led United Democratic Front is banking on anti-incumbency to stage a comeback, while the BJP-led NDA is attempting to expand its footprint in the state.

The electoral buzz was further heightened by participation from film personalities, both as voters and candidates. Actors Ramesh Pisharody, Anjali Nair and Major Ravi are among at least eight celebrities contesting the polls.

In Puducherry, a multi-cornered contest is underway between the NDA, the Congress-DMK alliance and actor Vijay’s newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. Over 10 lakh voters are choosing from 294 candidates across 1,099 polling stations spread across Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. Meanwhile, by-elections are being held in parts of Karnataka, Nagaland and Tripura. Turnout trends around 3 PM showed steady participation, with officials expressing confidence in peaceful polling. Bagalkot in Karnataka recorded 54.82% voting and Davanagere 49.66%. In Nagaland’s Koridang constituency, voting crossed 75%, while Tripura’s Dharmanagar seat recorded over 70% turnout. The Koridang bypoll was necessitated following the death of sitting BJP MLA Imkong L Imchen in November 2025.