The Election Commission of India has announced bye-elections to fill vacant seats across five assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and West Bengal, as well as one parliamentary seat in Assam. All these vacancies have arisen due to the resignation of elected representatives. The detailed schedule for these elections has been released by the Commission.
The constituencies and vacancies
The bye-elections will be held in the following constituencies:
- Tamil Nadu: 35-Madurantakam (SC) and 101-Dharapuram (SC) assembly seats, both vacant following resignations
- Puducherry: 09-Thattanchavadi assembly seat, vacant following resignation
- West Bengal: 70-Rejinagar and 210-Nandigram assembly seats, both vacant following resignations
- Assam: 09-Nagaon parliamentary seat, vacant following resignation
The electoral rolls for these constituencies have already been finalised and published. In Tamil Nadu, the rolls were published on 23 February 2026. In Puducherry, West Bengal and Assam, they were published between 10 February and 28 February 2026. The Commission will continue updating the rolls until ten days before the last date for filing nomination papers.
Electronic Voting Machines and paper trail devices known as VVPATs will be used at all polling stations. Voters will be required to show identification. The Election Commission accepts Electoral Photo Identity Cards as the primary form of identification, but also recognises Aadhar cards, bank passbooks with photographs, health insurance cards, driving licences, PAN cards, passports, disability identity cards and several other official documents.
The Model Code of Conduct, which regulates political campaign activity, comes into force immediately in the districts containing these constituencies. Candidates with criminal records must publicly disclose this information in newspapers and on television on three separate occasions during the campaign period. Political parties fielding such candidates must also publish details of their criminal background and the reasons for selecting them within 48 hours of announcement.
What this means for you
If you are a voter in any of these five assembly constituencies or the Nagaon parliamentary constituency, you will soon be called to vote in a bye-election. Check the final electoral roll to ensure your name is registered. Bring any accepted form of identification when you vote. Candidates with past criminal convictions must declare this publicly before polling day, allowing voters to make an informed choice.