The election to the 126-member Assam Assembly will be held from March 27, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Friday. Polling will take place in 3 phases. Votes will be counted on May 2.

Polling in the first phase will be held on March 27, followed by a second on April 1 and third on April 6.

Also read: West Bengal assembly elections 2021: Polling to be held in 8 phases from March 27, counting on May 2

The term of the Assembly will end on May 31.

In the 2016 election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) scripted history after winning the election in an alliance with its regional partners. BJP itself won 60 seats. The Asom Gana Parishad won 24 and the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) won 12. 

The Congress which had ruled the state for an uninterrupted 15 years secured 26 seats.

Although the ECI announced the poll dates on Friday, political campaigning has already begun. Former BJP chief and Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed an election rally in Nagoan on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already visited the state three times this month. 

Also read: Puducherry Assembly election 2021: Polling on April 6, votes to be counted on May 2

Senior officials of the ECI visited Assam this month to review the preparedness for the forthcoming elections. It assessed the progress made on the provision of Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) at polling stations, creation of auxiliary polling stations and targetted Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) activities, especially for low voter turnout polling stations, according to a PTI report.

The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora visited the state last month.