New Delhi: According to news agency ANI, the Election Commission is likely to announce the schedule of assembly elections in five states and union territories, West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry in a press conference at 4.00 pm today.The date coincides with the deadline for West Bengal to file appeals against the final voter list, which was published on February 28 and lists more than 6.4 crore voters.The window for filing appeals against the final rolls has already closed in Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. It has been indicated that the upcoming elections will involve fewer phases compared to 2021, when voting took place in eight phases in West Bengal, three phases in Assam and a single phase in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.

To conduct elections in a short period, the Election Commission is expected to significantly increase the deployment of central forces, especially in West Bengal. Reports suggest that the total strength of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) deployed for the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections could exceed 1,500 companies (about 1.4 lakh personnel). About 500 companies (45,000 personnel) are already on forward deployment in West Bengal.Voting is expected to be held in multiple phases in West Bengal and Assam, while voting may be held in a single phase in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. With the term of the West Bengal Assembly ending on May 7, voting in the state is likely to last from April to early May.The Election Commission will also continue to adjudicate about 60 lakh ‘doubtful’ voter cases in West Bengal handled by judicial officers appointed by the Calcutta High Court, and further appeals before tribunals will be possible. As per the directions of the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, supplementary electoral lists incorporating the approved cases will be published.Meanwhile, after the consent of the state government to provide officers of required seniority, the Election Commission has issued notification for the appointment of returning officers for all 294 constituencies of West Bengal. The Commission will closely monitor the deployment and randomization of CAPFs and State Police personnel through Special Observers and CAPF Nodal Officers.