Assembly Elections LIVE updates: ECI approves transfer of returning officers for West Bengal polls

Assembly polls 2026: Follow updates from The Hindu on the upcoming elections in five States on March 24, 2026

The Election Commission of India on Monday (March 23, 2026) approved the transfer and posting of returning officers for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, including for Bhabanipur, the constituency represented by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, an official said. 

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), one of the key constituents of the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tamil Nadu, has been allocated 27 seats for the Assembly election, seven more than in 2021. The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) has been allotted 18 constituencies and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) has got 11 seats. 

Also read: 25,03,842 voters in final list in Ernakulam; number goes up by 34,048 post SIR

Meanwhile, after days of hard bargaining, the CPI-M on Monday (March 23, 2026) night finally accepted the five seats offered by the DMK

A total of 445 candidates have filed nominations for the 30 assembly constituencies in the Union Territory of Puducherry. The filing of nominations began on March 16 and concluded on Monday (March 23, 2026).

Also read: Editorial on the West Bengal Assembly election 2026