New Delhi, March 15: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced the dates for the assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry on Sunday. He also issued a stern warning against the misuse of deepfake technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in election campaigns aimed at misleading voters.
During a media briefing, Kumar responded to a question regarding misinformation and deepfakes. He stated that nodal officers in each state would monitor such cases and take necessary actions, which may include removing content or filing FIRs when required.
Reiterating the preparations of the Election Commission of India for the upcoming elections, he assured that the elections in the four states and one Union Territory would be free from violence and inducements. Any violations would lead to strict actions by the Commission.
Kumar revealed that voting in Assam and Kerala would take place in a single phase on April 9. The Union Territory of Puducherry would also hold elections on the same day. In Tamil Nadu, voting for all 234 seats will occur in one phase on April 23.
He further explained that West Bengal, with 294 members, would conduct voting in two phases. Voting for 152 seats will take place on April 23, while the second phase for the remaining 142 seats will be on April 29.
The Chief Election Commissioner highlighted that a total of 17.4 crore voters are eligible to vote in these four states and one Union Territory. Approximately 2.18 lakh polling stations will be established, with 25 lakh personnel involved in the election process.
Kumar mentioned that voter turnout percentages would be released by election officials every two hours. He noted that the election schedule was finalized after a recent assessment of the preparations in these states and Union Territory.
Discussing the decision to limit voting in West Bengal to two phases, compared to eight phases in previous elections, Kumar stated that extensive consultations, including discussions with political parties, led to the conclusion that reducing the number of phases would be more convenient for everyone.
The Assam Legislative Assembly’s term will end on May 20, while the Kerala Legislative Assembly’s term will conclude on May 23.
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