Newsroom24x7 Desk

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India today announced the Schedule for the General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry.

The terms of the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry are normally due to expire as follows:

Tamil Nadu 22 May 2016

West Bengal 29 May 2016

Kerala 31 May 2016

Puducherry 02 June 2016

Assam 05 June 2016

As per the established practice, the Election Commission holds the General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of the States whose terms expire around the same time, together.

By virtue of its powers, duties and functions under Article 324 read with Article 172(1) of the Constitution of India and Section 15 of Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Commission is required to hold elections to constitute the new Legislative Assemblies in the States of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry before expiry of their present terms.

The total number of Assembly Constituencies in the States of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry and seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, as determined by the Delimitation Commission under the Delimitation Act, 2002, are as under:

State      Total seats   Reserved for SC     Reserved for ST

Kerala          140               4                                 02

Tamil Nadu    234              44                               02

West Bengal  294              68                               16

Puducherry      30              05                                —

Assam*          126             08                               16

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(*In Assam, territorial determination of Assembly Constituencies is as per Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 1976)