What Happened
- The scrutiny of nomination papers for the 2026 General Elections to Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and the Union Territory of Puducherry, along with bye-elections in multiple states, was completed on March 24, 2026, by Returning Officers across all poll-bound constituencies.
- More than 2,000 candidates remain in the fray post-scrutiny; in Assam alone, the Election Commission of India (ECI) rejected 56 nominations out of 1,394 filed for 126 Assembly seats.
- In Kerala, a total of 1,254 candidates filed 2,125 nominations for the state's 140 Assembly seats, and scrutiny was completed as per the notified schedule.
- The scrutiny process was conducted with full videography in the presence of candidates and their authorised representatives to ensure procedural transparency.
- The final count of candidates will be determined after the deadline for withdrawal of candidatures — set for March 26, 2026 at 3:00 PM — after which the list of contesting candidates is finalised.
- The ECI had announced the election schedule on March 15, 2026; the poll dates are: Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry — April 9 (single phase); Tamil Nadu — April 23 (single phase); West Bengal — April 23 (Phase 1, 152 seats) and April 29 (Phase 2, 142 seats); counting — May 4, 2026.
Static Topic Bridges
Nomination and Scrutiny Process — Constitutional and Legal Provisions
The election process in India is governed by the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RPA, 1951) and the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961. The nomination phase is a critical constitutional safeguard that determines who may contest elections.
- Nomination filing: Under Sections 33 and 34 of the RPA, 1951, every candidate must file a nomination paper with the Returning Officer (RO) within the notified period, accompanied by a security deposit and an affidavit (Form 26) disclosing criminal antecedents, assets, liabilities, and educational qualifications.
- Scrutiny: Under Section 36 of the RPA, 1951, the Returning Officer scrutinises all nominations on the date fixed in the schedule; nominations may be rejected for defects including: nomination not in the prescribed form, incomplete particulars, disqualification of the candidate (age, citizenship, criminal conviction), failure to deposit security, or nomination by a person not registered as a voter in any constituency.
- Withdrawal: Under Section 37, candidates may withdraw their nominations before the specified deadline by submitting a notice of withdrawal to the RO.
- Security deposit: ₹10,000 for Assembly elections (₹5,000 for SC/ST candidates); forfeited if the candidate fails to secure more than one-sixth of the total valid votes polled.
- Affidavit (Form 26) requirement: Mandated by the Supreme Court in the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) v. Union of India case (2002, 2003); candidates must disclose criminal cases, assets, and educational qualifications — enabling informed voting.
Connection to this news: The nomination scrutiny process concluded as per the ECI schedule, with over 56 rejections in Assam alone — illustrating how procedural scrutiny is the first gate in ensuring candidate eligibility and electoral integrity.
Election Commission of India — Powers, Model Code, and Role
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is an autonomous constitutional authority under Article 324 of the Constitution, vested with superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of all elections to Parliament, state legislatures, and offices of President and Vice-President.
- Article 324 grants the ECI quasi-judicial and executive powers to ensure free and fair elections — including the power to issue directions, postpone elections, disqualify candidates, and de-recognise parties.
- The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) comes into force from the date of announcement of the election schedule and remains operative until results are declared; it restricts the ruling government from announcing new policies, using official machinery for campaigning, or transferring officials who may influence elections.
- The ECI's First Randomisation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) for the 2026 elections was completed in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry — a procedural safeguard that ensures randomised assignment of EVMs to constituencies.
- Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners are now appointed under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023 — passed after the Supreme Court's direction in Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India (2023).
- The 2023 Act replaced the earlier appointment by Executive alone; the new process involves a Selection Committee comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and a Cabinet Minister nominated by the PM.
Connection to this news: The March 2026 elections are being conducted under the full authority of Article 324; the scrutiny of nominations by Returning Officers is the operational manifestation of the ECI's directive powers under the Constitution.
State Legislative Assemblies — Constitutional Provisions
India is a federal polity with a Parliamentary system adopted at both the Union and State levels. State legislative assemblies are established under Part VI of the Constitution and function as the elected lower houses of state legislatures.
- Article 170: Legislative Assembly of each state to consist of not more than 500 and not less than 60 members, directly elected from territorial constituencies.
- Article 172: Duration of state legislatures — 5 years from the date appointed for the first sitting after each general election, unless dissolved earlier.
- Article 174: Sessions, prorogation, and dissolution — the Governor, on the advice of the Council of Ministers, summons, prorogues, and dissolves the Assembly.
- Disqualification grounds: Articles 191 and 192; Tenth Schedule (anti-defection law, 52nd Amendment, 1985).
- 2026 state election seat composition: Assam (126 seats), Kerala (140 seats), Tamil Nadu (234 seats), West Bengal (294 seats), Puducherry (30 seats).
- Bye-elections are triggered when a seat becomes vacant due to death, resignation, disqualification, or election being set aside — governed by the same RPA provisions.
Connection to this news: The 2026 Assembly elections in five states and a UT are a high-stakes constitutional exercise; collectively, these states and UT represent diverse political landscapes and over 200 million voters, making them a significant indicator of national political trends.
Key Facts & Data
- Election schedule announced: March 15, 2026 by the Election Commission of India.
- States: Assam (126 seats), Kerala (140 seats), Tamil Nadu (234 seats), West Bengal (294 seats); UT: Puducherry (30 seats).
- Nomination scrutiny completed: March 24, 2026.
- Withdrawal deadline: March 26, 2026 at 3:00 PM.
- Total candidates post-scrutiny: Over 2,000 (across all poll-bound states/UT).
- Assam rejections: 56 nominations rejected out of 1,394 filed.
- Kerala nominations filed: 2,125 by 1,254 candidates.
- Poll dates: Assam/Kerala/Puducherry — April 9; Tamil Nadu/West Bengal Phase 1 — April 23; West Bengal Phase 2 — April 29; Results — May 4, 2026.
- Governing law: Representation of the People Act, 1951; Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961.
- Nomination rejection grounds: Section 36, RPA, 1951 (defect in form, disqualification, incomplete particulars).
- Security deposit (Assembly): ₹10,000 general; ₹5,000 SC/ST; forfeited if candidate secures less than 1/6 of total valid votes.
- ECI constitutional basis: Article 324 of the Constitution of India.
- CEC appointment law: Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.