Assembly polls dates: Ok C Venugopal accuses ECI of bias; phrases its stand as ‘mysterious’

AICC General Secretary Ok C Venugopal on Monday (March 16, 2026) accused the Election Commission of bias, alleging that the Assembly election schedule was strategically engineered to undermine the Congress occasion by limiting its marketing campaign window and limiting the motion of its key leaders.

He criticised the Election Commission’s determination to carry the primary section polls on April 9 in states the place the Congress occasion is a outstanding drive.

“There seems to be no urgency as the results will be announced only on May 4,” he informed reporters in New Delhi.

According to the election schedule introduced by the Election Commission in New Delhi on Sunday (March 15, 2026), Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry will go to the polls within the first section on April 9.

Mr. Venugopal mentioned that after the final date for withdrawal of nominations, candidates will hardly get 10 days for full-fledged campaigning because it coincides with the Holy Week.

The Holy Week is of nice significance for Keralites, and election work shouldn’t be attainable on days like Good Friday, particularly in Christian-dominated areas, he identified.

He mentioned even when the ballot date had been scheduled after the Holy Week and Vishu festivities within the State, it could not have made a lot distinction.

“You can see that the Assembly election is being held in the first phase in places where the Congress party will showcase a significant fight,” he mentioned.

“So, the Election Commission’s approach is very clear. This election date has been announced with the objective of cutting short the campaigning of the candidates and limiting the Congress leaders who lead the campaign,” Mr. Venugopal alleged.

He mentioned the same method was evident throughout the Assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra as effectively.

“So, there is no doubt that the Election Commission’s approach is very mysterious,” the Congress chief mentioned, including that he doesn’t know whether or not the state authorities has any function in it.

He, nevertheless, made it clear that the early election date wouldn’t affect the ballot prospects of the Congress occasion, which is all set for the much-awaited Assembly polls.