New Delhi, March 15 (NationPress) During the announcement of Assembly election dates for Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar delivered a stern warning to those who might exploit AI and deepfakes to deceive voters during the election campaign. He stated, “In terms of misinformation and deepfakes, our designated officers in every state will oversee such issues and implement necessary measures, including content removal or lodging FIRs where necessary,” responding to a query from IANS at the press conference.

Reaffirming the Election Commission of India's readiness for the forthcoming elections, he noted, “Elections in four states and one Union Territory must proceed without violence or inducements. The Commission will impose strict penalties if any violations are detected.”

Earlier, the CEC announced, “Assam and Kerala will conduct their voting in a single phase on April 9. The Union Territory of Puducherry will also vote on April 9. In Tamil Nadu, all 234 seats will have elections in one phase on April 23.”

“For the 294-member assembly in West Bengal, the election will occur in two phases: 152 seats on April 23, and the remaining 142 seats will vote on April 29,” he elaborated.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar mentioned that approximately 17.4 crore voters are eligible to participate in the elections across the four states and one Union Territory.

He also reported that 2.18 lakh polling stations will be established in these areas, with around 25 lakh personnel deployed to ensure smooth election operations.

The CEC informed that polling officials will release voting percentage updates every two hours.

He explained that the Commission finalized the election schedule after assessing the preparedness in these states and the Union Territory recently.

In explaining the decision to limit voting in West Bengal to two phases, down from eight in previous elections, CEC Gyanesh Kumar stated, “We engaged in extensive discussions, including consultations with political parties, leading to the conclusion that reducing the number of phases would enhance convenience for everyone involved.”

The Assam Assembly's term will conclude on May 20, while the Kerala Assembly will end its term on May 23. In Tamil Nadu, the Assembly term is expected to finish on May 10, and in West Bengal, it will close on May 7.

Moreover, the West Bengal Legislative Assembly comprises 294 seats, Assam has 126 seats, Kerala consists of 140 seats, and Tamil Nadu features 234 seats. The Puducherry Legislative Assembly has a total of 33 seats.