New Delhi, Feb 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hinted that the assembly elections to Assam and other states are expected to be announced by the Election Commission in the first week of next month (March).

While addressing a massive public gathering at Silapathar in eastern Assam’s Dhemaji district, Modi said: “Last time (2016) assembly election date for Assam was announced on March 4, this time also dates are expected to be announced in the first week of March. However, this is the work of the Election commission.”

“In the run up to the elections, I will visit Assam, West Bengal, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Kerala as much as I can,” the Prime Minister said after inaugurating and laying foundation stones of five mega projects worth Rs 3,222 crore in gas, oil and education sectors.

Assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry are expected in April-May.

The full bench of the Election Commission led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora already visited all the five states and held meetings with the political parties, officials and others.

Senior Election Commission officials also visited the five poll-bound states on a number of occasions to review the preparedness of the assembly elections and plugged the loopholes in holding the polls.