Silence Descends as Assam, Kerala and Puducherry Enter 48-Hour Campaign Ban Ahead of Single-Phase Polls

The measure also bans the dissemination of poll-related content on electronic media, social media, bulk SMS, or calls, while the display of opinion polls and survey results on television is barred. A single-phase election will be held on Thursday across 126 constituencies in Assam, 140 in Kerala and 30 in Puducherry, placing millions of voters at the centre of a tightly regulated democratic exercise.

Polling officers on Wednesday began preparing for the democratic exercise as election materials, including Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), were handed over to polling personnel in the regions. In Assam, some 250 million voters will cast their ballots for 722 candidates. The state's Chief Electoral Officer, Anurag Goel, urged all candidates, political parties and media organizations to strictly adhere to the ECI guidelines, cautioning that any violation would lead to penal action.

India's Central Armed Police Forces, including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), have been deployed to ensure security at polling booths, reinforcing administrative preparedn

ess amid heightened political activity.

Meanwhile, in Kerala, six people were injured on Tuesday in a clash between workers of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kannur as campaigning came to a close. The southern state has 27 million eligible voters and 890 candidates in the fray.

In the union territory of Puducherry, 950,000 voters will exercise their franchise, with 294 candidates contesting the election.

As the silence period takes effect, the focus now shifts entirely to voters, with authorities enforcing strict compliance to ensure a free, fair and orderly electoral process across the three regions.