Opening paragraph: On Saturday, March 21, 2026, the Election Commission of India made a very important announcement about the upcoming state elections. They have finished the first step of choosing which voting machines will go to different areas in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry. These big elections are set to take place in April and May of 2026, and they will decide who leads several major states in the country. This news comes at a time when political leaders are already starting to argue about whether the voting process will be fair for everyone.

What Happened?

The Election Commission of India, which is the group that runs all elections in the country, has started getting ready for the 2026 Assembly polls. On March 21, they completed a process called "first randomization" for machines called EVMs and VVPATs. These are the electronic machines that people use to cast their votes and the paper slips that show who they voted for. The commission said they used a very clear two-stage process to pick which machines go to which polling stations. This is done to make sure that no one can cheat or know exactly which machine will be in which building ahead of time.

While the machines are being prepared, the schedule for the voting has also been made clear. For people living in Assam, Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry, the big day to vote will be April 9, 2026. In Tamil Nadu, the election will happen a bit later on April 23. West Bengal will have its election in two different parts. The first part will happen on April 23, and the second part will happen on April 29. After everyone has finished voting, the officials will count all the votes on May 4, 2026, to see who the winners are.

However, not everyone is happy with how things are going. In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has raised her voice against the central government. She claims that the way the government is checking the list of voters is not right. She is worried that many people are having their names taken off the list so they cannot vote. She calls this a way to "snatch away the voting rights" of the common people. This has created a lot of tension between her party and the BJP-led central government just as the elections are about to begin.

Key Highlights

The Election Commission finished picking the first set of voting machines for three major regions on March 21, 2026.
Elections for Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry are officially scheduled to take place on April 9, 2026.
Tamil Nadu will hold its big election day on April 23, 2026, to choose its new leaders.
West Bengal will vote in two stages, with the first on April 23 and the second on April 29.
All the votes from every state will be counted together on May 4, 2026, to find the winners.
Mamata Banerjee has accused the central government of trying to stop people from voting by changing voter lists.
The voting machines are chosen through a computer process to keep the election honest and safe.

Why Does This Matter?

This news is very important for every person living in these states because the election determines their future. When we vote, we choose the people who will make rules about our schools, our hospitals, and our roads. If the voting machines are not ready or if people feel the process is not fair, it makes them lose trust in the government. That is why the Election Commission spends so much time checking the machines and making sure everything is done by the rules. It is about making sure every single vote counts and that the person who wins is the one the people actually wanted.

Also, the fight over voter lists matters because it affects who is allowed to have a say. If a person's name is deleted from the list by mistake, they lose their power to choose their leader. This is why leaders like Mamata Banerjee are talking about it so loudly. For a regular person, the most important thing is knowing that they can walk into a polling booth on election day and find their name ready. These elections are a chance for millions of people to speak up and help decide where their state is going for the next five years.

What Are People Saying?

There are many different opinions about these upcoming elections. The Election Commission of India says they are working hard to be fair and transparent. They believe their two-stage process for picking machines is the best way to prevent any problems. They want the public to know that the machines are checked carefully before anyone uses them. They hope this will make people feel confident when they go out to vote in April.

On the other hand, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is very angry. During a speech at Id prayers in Kolkata, she told the crowd that this election is a battle to protect their rights. She even used very strong words against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him names and saying he is trying to hurt the state's culture. She is telling her supporters that they must fight to keep their right to vote. Meanwhile, the BJP and the central government say they are just following the laws and making sure the voter lists are updated correctly.

Conclusion

As the dates for the 2026 elections get closer, the excitement and the arguments are only going to grow. With voting starting as early as April 9 in some states, the next few weeks will be filled with more news about machines, voter lists, and political speeches. The most important thing is that the process remains fair for every citizen. Whether you live in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, or West Bengal, May 4 will be the big day when the whole country finds out who will lead these important regions into the future. For now, everyone is watching the machines and the lists very closely.