New Delhi: CEC Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday announces the schedule for the four Assembly elections in four states and one UT in April 9^th and 23^rd.  The ECI is conducting elections in West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

Speaking to the media CEC Gyanesh Kumar said that the States Assam, Kerala and UT Puducherry will go to the polls in single phase on April 9^th. The counting of votes will take place on May 4^th.

The Tamil Nadu will go to the polls on April 23^rd in all 234 constituencies and the counting will take place on May 4^th.

The CEC said that West Bengal the elections will go elections in two phases. In West Bengal out of the total 294 Assembly constituencies, 152 will go to the polls on April 23^rd while the remaining 142 will vote on April 29^th. The counting will be held on May 4^th.

In his address at the press conference CEC said that a total of 17.4 crore voters are eligible to vote in elections to the five assemblies with 824 constituencies. The voting will be held at 2.19 lakh polling stations across four states and one UT with 25 lakh election officials on duty. The average number of electors per polling station is 750-900 across Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, he added.

He highlighted the importance of the recently concluded Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The CEC congratulated the BLOs and other election officials for their work. Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi were also present during the briefing.

Asked about the announcement of freebies by different Governments ahead of elections, the CEC said the Governments can take any policy decision in their wisdom before polls are announced, but any inducement is not allowed during the model code of conduct.