EC will kick off its visits to poll-bound states to assess poll preparedness, with a tour of Assam from Feb 16 to 18, according to sources in the commission.Sources told TOI that CEC Gyanesh Kumar and ECs S S Sandhu and Vivek Joshi may visit Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the last week of this month. The tour of Bengal and Kerala is likely to happen only in March; the dates are yet to be finalised.Assembly polls are due in the four states and UT of Puducherry in April-May. An announcement is possible in the second half of March.During their visits, EC will hold discussions with political party netas, chief secretary and DGP, district magistrates, and the brass of law enforcement agencies.