Chennai: With the political temperature rising in Tamil Nadu, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to conduct a crucial review visit to the state
in the first week of February to assess preparedness for the upcoming Assembly elections. A high-level team, comprising Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, will hold extensive consultations with state officials and political parties, after which the poll schedule is expected to be announced by late February or early March.
ECI’s February Agenda: Security, Sensitive Seats, and Fair Play Consultations
During the visit, the Commission will hold detailed discussions on law and order, security arrangements, and logistical preparations for conducting free and fair elections. The team plans to meet with police officials, district administrators, and representatives of all major political parties. Key topics on the agenda include campaign restrictions, monitoring of political advertisements on social media, curbing the distribution of money and gifts, and identifying sensitive or problematic constituencies. The ECI will also focus on measures to boost voter turnout and ensure a peaceful election process.
2026 Tamil Nadu Elections: A Potential Four-Cornered Battle Takes Shape
This election is shaping up to be one of the most keenly contested in recent history, with a potential four-way fight among the ruling DMK-led alliance, the opposition AIADMK-led NDA bloc, Seeman’s Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), and the newly formed Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) led by actor Vijay. This fragmented landscape has heightened the significance of the ECI’s visit, as managing a multi-polar contest requires meticulous planning and stringent monitoring.
2021 Timeline as Reference: Single-Phase Polling Likely Again
Looking at the precedent set in the 2021 elections, the ECI had announced the poll schedule for Tamil Nadu and four other states on February 26, 2021. The state saw single-phase polling on April 6, with results declared on May 2. If a similar timeline is followed this year, the announcement can be expected by the end of February, with voting likely in April. The 2021 process saw nominations filed between March 12–19, with scrutiny and withdrawal completed by March 22.
The ECI’s forthcoming visit marks the formal start of the electoral machinery rolling into action, setting the stage for what promises to be a high-stakes battle for the 234 seats of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
