The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for assembly elections in four states and the Union Territory of Puducherry, triggering the immediate enforcement of the model code of conduct across the poll-bound regions.

The elections will take place in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry. With the announcement, political parties are now barred from making new policy announcements aimed at influencing voters, while the election watchdog assumes control over key aspects of the state administrative machinery.

Likely multi-phase voting in Bengal

According to sources within the Commission, voting in most states is expected to be conducted in a single phase. However, West Bengal may see polling spread across three to four phases because of its history of election-related violence.

During the 2021 assembly elections, the state went to the polls in eight phases. In contrast, Assam held voting in three phases, while Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry voted in a single phase.

From a security standpoint, West Bengal is considered particularly sensitive. Around 480 battalions of central security forces have reportedly been deployed there. The Commission has also indicated that decisions regarding the deployment of central forces will now be taken by police observers appointed by the poll body in consultation with district officials. Earlier, such decisions were handled by district police chiefs.

Key political battles in major states

In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party are seeking a fourth consecutive term, while the opposition led by the Bharatiya Janata Party hopes to improve its electoral performance and challenge the ruling party.

The elections in the state are also taking place after the controversial Special Intensive Revision exercise, which became a major political issue and even reached the Supreme Court of India.

In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin is aiming for a second term in power. The opposition alliance includes the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the BJP. Another factor drawing attention in the state’s political landscape is actor-politician Vijay, who has entered the political arena with his party TVK.

Political contests in Kerala and Assam

In Kerala, the contest is expected to centre on the traditional battle between the Left and the Congress-led alliance. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is seeking a third term after securing two consecutive mandates, a rare occurrence in a state known for alternating governments.

Meanwhile, in Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is looking to retain power for a second term. The Congress-led opposition, under state leader Gaurav Gogoi, is hoping to mount a stronger challenge despite recent exits of several party leaders.

Contest in Puducherry

In Puducherry, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy and his party, the All India NR Congress, are aiming for a third term. The opposition, led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, is campaigning on promises of change.

With the model code of conduct now in force, all eyes will be on the upcoming campaign season as parties prepare for crucial contests across the five regions.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been detained for nearly six months under the National Security Act (NSA), will be released after the central government decided to revoke the detention order.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said the decision was taken after due consideration, noting that Wangchuk had already completed nearly half of the permissible detention period under the law.

In a statement, the government said the move was part of its broader effort to maintain peace and encourage dialogue in Ladakh.

According to the ministry, the government remains committed to creating an atmosphere of stability and mutual trust in the region so that constructive engagement with all stakeholders can continue.

The statement added that ongoing protests and bandhs had affected normal life and disrupted several sections of society, including students, job seekers, businesses, tour operators and tourists.

The government also reiterated its commitment to providing safeguards for Ladakh and expressed hope that regional concerns would be resolved through discussions, including through the High-Powered Committee and other dialogue mechanisms.

Detained after protests in Leh

Wangchuk was detained on September 26 last year, two days after violent protests broke out in Leh over demands for statehood and constitutional protection for Ladakh.

The clashes reportedly left four people dead and about 50 others injured, including security personnel.

Authorities detained Wangchuk under the NSA on the orders of the Leh district magistrate to maintain public order. He was later transferred to Jodhpur prison.

Long-running agitation over Ladakh safeguards

The activist has been one of the prominent voices in the movement seeking constitutional safeguards for Ladakh, particularly the inclusion of the Union Territory under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

Since 2023, Wangchuk has led campaigns highlighting the impact of climate change on Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem.

Last year, he undertook a 35-day fast demanding statehood and constitutional protections for the region. The protest eventually escalated into unrest, after which he called off the fast, saying his message of pursuing a peaceful path had not succeeded.

Legal challenge and court remarks

Wangchuk’s detention was challenged in the Supreme Court by his wife Gitanjali Angmo, an educator.

During the hearing, the court raised concerns about the translation of a speech cited as evidence for his detention. Judges observed that if a three-minute speech was transcribed into a seven- or eight-minute text, it could suggest possible malice.

Opposition reaction

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor welcomed the government’s decision to revoke the detention but questioned the length of time Wangchuk spent in custody.

In a post on social media platform X, Tharoor said the 169-day detention appeared excessively long and called on the Supreme Court to establish strict norms for the maximum period of detention without trial.

He also argued that indefinite detention without trial was a practice inherited from the colonial era and should not exist in a mature democracy.

Supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the All India Trinamool Congress clashed in central Kolkata on Saturday morning ahead of a rally scheduled to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the day.

The confrontation took place near Girish Park, roughly five kilometres from the Brigade Parade Ground where the prime minister is expected to address supporters.

Eyewitnesses reported that members from both political groups raised slogans and threw stones at each other during the confrontation. The clash created tension in the area as supporters were moving towards the rally venue.

According to BJP supporters, stones were allegedly thrown at them without provocation while they were heading towards the rally. One party activist told a Bengali news channel that the group was targeted suddenly and also faced verbal abuse.

However, local TMC workers rejected the allegations. They claimed that BJP supporters initiated the confrontation by hurling abuses and throwing stones first.

TMC supporters also alleged that stones were thrown towards the residence of local party leaders during the incident.

Police personnel were quickly deployed to the spot to control the situation and prevent further escalation. A large contingent of security forces intervened to restore order in the area.

The clash occurred about half an hour before the prime minister’s scheduled address at the Brigade Parade Ground. The rally marks the conclusion of the BJP’s statewide ‘Parivartan Yatra’ ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal.

During his visit, the prime minister is also expected to unveil and lay foundation stones for development projects valued at more than Rs 18,000 crore in the state.