New Delhi: Counting of votes began at 8 am on Monday and is underway across five regions, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry, with results expected to determine the political direction of these key states and Union Territory.
At 5:22 PM
The Bharatiya Janata Party has surged past the 200-seat mark in West Bengal, delivering a stunning blow to the long-dominant All India Trinamool Congress, which trails at 87. As per Election Commission of India trends, INC has 2 seats, AJUP 2, CPI(M) 1, and AISF 1
At 5 PM
Mamata Banerjee storms into Bhabanipur counting centre
A video has surfaced on social media which shows West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arriving at a counting centre in Bhabanipur amid sloganeering on the counting day in West Bengal. The viral video shows a tense atmosphere outside the centre as counting of votes for the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 continues. Later, she barged into the Shekhawat Memorial School counting centre in Kolkata.
As per the early trends, the BJP is leading on 193 seats, comfortably crossing the majority mark in the 294-member Assembly. The TMC led by Mamata is trailing behind, pointing towards a significant shift in the political landscape of the state.
At 4:22 PM
In Tamil Nadu, sitting CM fails to hold fortress
Unofficial reports currently suggest a tectonic shift in Tamil Nadu's political arena, as Chief Minister MK Stalin has reportedly lost his bastion of Kolathur to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) candidate in a major upset. Data from ECI supports this developing narrative, showing that by Round 18 of 22, TVK's VS Babu had surged to 72,498 votes, maintaining a lead of 8,539 votes over Stalin’s 63,959. For a seat that Stalin previously commanded with a six-figure margin, this late-stage deficit signals a historic "giant killer" moment for Babu and a stunning debut for Thalapathy Vijay’s party on the electoral stage.
The potential loss in Kolathur serves as the definitive telltale story of an election where traditional Dravidian strongholds have been breached by a fresh political force. Babu, a 75-year-old veteran and former DMK loyalist who defected to the TVK earlier this year, appears to have successfully tapped into a desire for change that even the incumbent chief minister could not withstand in his home constituency.
While the AIADMK’s P Santhana Krishnan trails distantly with just over 16,000 votes, the real battle has been the systematic dismantling of the DMK’s urban dominance. If these trends hold through the final four rounds, the fall of Kolathur will not just be a local defeat for M.K Stalin, but a symbolic end to the era of undisputed bipolar dominance in Tamil Nadu politics.
At 3:55 PM
West Bengal: Ecstasy in Malda, Anarchy in Asansol
This split-screen reality captures a state in the throes of a painful rebirth, where the joy of one half of the electorate is inextricably linked to the visceral displacement of the other. The images from Malda showcase a profound, almost spiritual connection to the emerging results, as supporters celebrate a "sundown" that many thought would never come for the ruling dispensation. Yet, the shadows lengthening over Asansol tell a darker story of the cost of this transition.
The focus of this historic election day is rapidly shifting from the clinical precision of decimal points and seat tallies to the visceral, raw emotions playing out across the Bengali landscape.
While the early hours were defined by the steady flicker of digits on news tickers, the mid-day reality is now written in the tears of relief on the faces of supporters in Malda and the splintering of wood in Asansol.
In Malda, the air is thick with the scent of victory and tears of catharsis; women in saffron sarees are seen collapsed on their knees, arms outstretched in prayerful ecstasy, embodying a sense of liberation that transcends mere politics.
This jubilant surge, however, carries a jagged edge of vengeance elsewhere. In Asansol, the celebratory atmosphere curdles into chaos as dozens of young men, fuelled by the adrenaline of emerging leads, stormed a TMC camp office. The scene was one of unrestrained fury, with furniture smashed and banners torn—a violent mirroring of the "Bhoi Mukt" rhetoric that has defined this campaign.
As the final rounds of counting approach, the haunting beauty of a supporter’s prayer and the ugly crash of a vandal’s chair remain the two most honest reflections of a Bengal at its most polarised crossroads.
At 3:38 PM
Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi loses in Jorhat
BJP’s Hitendra Nath Goswami, the sitting MLA from the Jorhat constituency, has defeated Congress party’s deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, by a huge margin of 23,182 votes, according to the ECI website. Gogoi contested Assembly polls for the first time. (Read more)
At 2.50 PM
Jhalmuri, rasgulla in BJP's victory menu
In Delhi, BJP MPs Anil Baluni, Sudhanshu Trivedi, National General Secretary Arun Singh and other leaders celebrated with rasgulla and jhalmuri as early trends showed the BJP crossing the majority mark in West Bengal.
While in Bhopal, BJP workers distributed 'Jhalmuri' (a spicy and tangy light snack of Bengal) to the public. Rasgulla was distributed among the people in Indore.
This will be the first time that the Bhartiya Janta Party will form the government in the Bengali state, reducing Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee's Trinmool Congress Party to less than 100 seats.
At 2.27 PM
'Thrilled with the BJP win in Bengal': Dream Girl tweets on dream win for BJP
At 2.22 PM
TMC Bagda Candidate Blames Defeat On BJP, EVMs
Madhuparna Thakur, a candidate of the Trinamool Congress from Bagda, alleged that “TMC trailing in Muslim booths is not possible; this indicates that EVMs have been hacked,” as the BJP takes a strong lead in West Bengal.
At 2:12 PM
Unrest in Bengal's Dinhata
As per an ANI report, heated exchange were seen between TMC and BJP workers in Dinhata during vote counting.
At 2 PM
Family of TVK chief and actor Vijay dances in joy, as the party continues its lead in the state. It is currently leading on 109 of the total 234 seats in the state.
At 1: 53 PM
Violence in Bengal's Asansol
According to ANI, security personnel resorted to lathicharge to disperse the people as a scuffle broke out near the counting centre at Asansol Engineering College. Chairs, vehicles were vandalised as a scuffle broke out near the counting centre at Asansol Engineering College.
At 1:18 PM
Pradyut Bordoloi's massive lead in Dispur seat proves Himata's political acumen
As the Round 10 data from reveals, BJP leader Pradyut Bordoloi has secured a massive lead of 61,560 votes, establishing a formidable gap of 35,680 votes over his nearest rival in the prestigious Dispur Assembly constituency in Assam. While this performance aligns with the BJP’s strategy of consolidating its hold over the Brahmaputra Valley, Bordoloi's presence on the ticket remains one of the most debated plot points of the 2026 election cycle.
His induction into the BJP just weeks before the April polls sent shockwaves through the state's political establishment, marking the end of a five-decade-long career with the Congress. The move was mired in controversy, as Bordoloi cited systematic "neglect and isolation" within his former party—allegedly stemming from his support for Shashi Tharoor in the 2022 Congress presidential race—as the primary catalyst for his defection.
The veteran leader’s leap to the saffron camp was far from a seamless transition, sparking a "ticket distribution row" and internal friction that spilled into the public eye.
While the BJP leadership welcomed him as a strategic asset, the move triggered a rebellion from grassroots loyalists like Jayanta Kumar Das, who resigned to contest as an independent in protest of a newcomer being prioritised over long-term party workers. The Congress high command dismissed the defection as a result of personal frustration over a single ticket, yet the Round 10 trends suggest that Bordoloi has successfully handled this controversy to dominate the Dispur constituency.
As he maintains a lead of more than double the votes of the Congress candidate, Mira Borthakur Goswami, the results seem to validate the BJP's gamble on the "outsider," turning a controversial induction into a centrepiece of their likely state-wide victory.
Das has so far won 9751 votes trailing by a whopping 51809 indicating that his questioning of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's poll strategy was ultimately at best amateurish.
At 12:55 PM
Do not lose heart, we will win after sundown: Mamata tells cadres
With the BJP surging past the majority mark in early trends—currently leading in approximately 167 seats state-wide—Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s "sundown" message serves as a high-stakes psychological anchor for a party facing its most significant existential threat since 2011.
By characterising the early leads as a BJP conspiracy and branding her workers as tiger cubs, Banerjee is attempting to prevent a total collapse of morale among counting agents who might otherwise abandon their posts before the crucial final rounds.
Historically, the TMC has relied on strong performances in rural belts and postal ballots that are often tabulated later in the day. Her promise to "win after sundown" is a direct appeal to this late-surge strategy. Despite the current 100-seat gap between the two parties, the message reflects her refusal to concede, framing the ongoing count not as a defeat, but as a temporary narrative battle that she expects to flip as the sun sets on the 2026 mandate.
At 12:30 PM
Mamata Fights Back In Bhabanipur
As of Round 5, Mamata Banerjee has surged to a commanding lead of 16,706 votes in Bhabanipur, effectively turning her South Kolkata citadel into a fortress against Suvendu Adhikari’s challenge. However, the paradox of the 2026 verdict lies in the state-wide map, where the BJP has breached the majority mark of 148 seats, currently holding leads in approximately 167 constituencies according to live ECI trends.
While the chief minister is poised for a personal victory that erases the sting of her 2021 Nandigram defeat, her TMC is struggling to stay afloat with leads in only 82 seats. This dramatic divergence suggests that while Bhabanipur remains loyal to its "Didi," the broader Bengali electorate has shifted toward the "Bhoi Mukt" (fear-free) narrative pushed by the saffron camp. Unless a massive reversal occurs in the remaining 15 rounds across the state, the TMC is looking at its most significant electoral setback since 2011, shifting the political gravity from the halls of Nabanna to the opposition benches.
If these trends hold and the BJP secures a historic mandate to form the government, Mamata Banerjee is mathematically and politically the primary candidate to become the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Assembly. To hold this constitutional post, a leader must represent the largest opposition party that commands at least 10% of the House strength (29-30 seats)—a threshold the TMC will comfortably cross even in a losing scenario.
While the transition from a three-term chief minister to the LoP would be a historic "role reversal," it would position Banerjee as a formidable 'shadow CM', wielding her 16,000+ vote mandate from Bhabanipur to lead the charge against the new treasury benches. The final rounds of counting will determine if she enters the House as the head of a decimated party or as the leader of a resilient opposition ready to contest every policy of the newly dominant "Lotus" administration.
At 12:18 PM
Congress-Led UDF takes big lead
Celebrations broke out at Congress offices in Thiruvananthapuram and New Delhi as early trends in the Kerala Assembly elections showed the United Democratic Front (UDF) heading towards a decisive victory. (Read more)
At 12:09 PM
FPJ Decodes BJP's Spectacular Win, Mamata Didi's Loss
The BJP is set to form government in West Bengal for the first time, leading in 180 seats and crossing the majority mark of 148, as per trends at 11:45 am. The party’s surge is attributed to factors like voter list revision, alleged consolidation of votes, anti-incumbency against TMC and concerns over law and order. (Read more)
At 11:58 AM
Which Exit Poll Got Bengal Right?
Exit polls for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections had presented a sharply divided picture, but counting trends in the first few rounds appear to validate some projections, particularly those predicting a strong performance by the BJP.
According to compiled exit poll data, agencies such as Today’s Chanakya and Chanakya Strategies had forecast a decisive edge for the BJP. Today’s Chanakya projected the BJP winning between 181 and 203 seats, while Chanakya Strategies estimated 150–160 seats for the party. Matrize and PMARQ also gave the BJP a clear lead, predicting 146–161 seats. (Read more)
At 11:45 AM
Omar tweets 'Bloody Hell'
Whatever the reason for this tweet, but Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's tweet describes the BJP show in West Bengal quite aptly.
At 11:31 AM
‘Thalapathy’ surge dismantles Dravidian duopoly
The political terrain in Tamil Nadu is witnessing a historic realignment today as actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) shatters the state’s long-standing bipolar tradition.
With News18 reporting leads in 104 seats and both NDTV and India Today placing the figure at 108, the party has officially crossed the century mark, firmly positioning itself as the single-largest entity in the 234-member Assembly. This surge has sent shockwaves through the established camps. The ruling DMK has notably slipped to a distant third in several regions, with heavyweights and sitting ministers trailing in key urban pockets. In a symbolic blow to the status quo, TVK candidates are putting up fierce fights in traditional bastions like Tiruchirappalli East and Perambur, signalling that the "Vijay Wave" has successfully converted cinematic charisma into a formidable electoral mandate.
The 2026 verdict appears to be a definitive "thumb-up" from the youth and first-time voters who have rallied behind TVK’s promise of a transparent, "fear-free" administration. Beyond the raw numbers, the most telling aspect of today’s results is the geographical spread of the leads from the industrial hubs of Coimbatore and Salem to the northern belts of Kancheepuram, the TVK has managed to bridge the urban-rural divide that often stymies new parties.
While the AIADMK maintains a steady second-place presence with leads in roughly 70 seats, the DMK is facing its most significant challenge in decades, with Chief Minister MK Stalin and Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin locked in unexpectedly tight contests in their own respective seats. As the counting progresses toward the final rounds, the "Ekla Chalo Re" spirit seems to have found a new home in Tamil Nadu, where Vijay’s strategic decision to contest without a major alliance has seemingly paid off, leaving the party just ten seats shy of the magic 118-mark required to form the government on its own.
At 11: 15 AM
Ratna Debnath leads in Panihati
Perhaps in a most defining moment, RG Kar victim's mother and BJP candidate Ratna Debnath is leading in Panihati constituency.
At 11:05 AM
Lotus blooms in a 'bhoi mukt' bastion
As the counting for the 294-seat Assembly progresses today, the BJP appears to have dismantled the TMC’s long-standing fortress, surging past the majority mark of 148 seats with early leads in over 170 constituencies. The narrative of a "Bhoi Mukt" (fear-free) Bengal, which served as the bedrock of the BJP's high-octane campaign, is resonating through the EVM trends as the party leaves its rivals behind.
Perhaps most striking is the isolation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee; with key lieutenants trailing and the party struggling to defend its urban strongholds, the BJP has effectively hijacked the iconic 'Ekla Chalo Re' spirit—not as a cry of resistance, but as a march toward an unprecedented solo victory. As the "Tender Lotus" takes root across the state, the TMC finds itself in the uncharacteristic position of an observer to its own waning influence.
At 10:48 AM
High-stakes duel and the Bhabanipur pulse
The political atmosphere in West Bengal has reached a fever pitch as the counting of votes continues, transforming the 159 – Bhabanipur constituency into the ultimate theatre of regional power. According to the Election Commission of India data, the battle is currently a high-octane "see-saw" contest that captures the polarised mood of the state.
As of Round 2 of 20, Adhikari Suvendu of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has surged into an early lead with 6,380 votes, establishing a margin of +1,558 votes. This early momentum for the BJP reflects a significant shift in the electoral discourse, as the party seeks to dismantle the AITC’s long-standing bastion.
In contrast, the mood within the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) camp remains one of cautious resilience as Mamata Banerjee currently trails with 4,822 votes, placing her exactly 1,558 votes behind her rival. The silence from the CPM and Congress camps is echoed by their marginal numbers, with Shrijeeb Biswas and Pradip Prasad trailing drastically at 104 and 82 votes respectively, signaling a sharp consolidation into a two-way ideological war. With only 10% of the rounds completed, the air remains thick with tension; the ECI’s live updates from the counting centers continue to fuel a narrative of a "prestige battle" where every round could pivot the state's political destiny.
At 10:33 AM
BJP Just Misses 100 Seats in Assam
The 2026 Assam Assembly election results indicate a commanding performance by the BJP+ alliance, which is currently projected to secure 97 seats. While this result falls just short of the triple-digit mark, it represents a significant increase of +27 seats from the 66 seats it held following the 2021 assembly cycle.
This trajectory follows a historical shift in the state; previously, the incumbent BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) retained power in 2021 with 75 seats, marking the first time a non-INC alliance won consecutive terms in Assam. During that period, the Mahajot led by the INC won 50 seats, which was a notable increase from the 26 seats they held in 2016.
The current data from NDTV shows the BJP+ well above the required majority threshold of 64 seats for the 126-total assembly. This dominance has come at the expense of other groups; the AIUDF+ has dropped from 11 seats in 2021 to just 2 seats in the current count, while the OTH (Others) category has plummeted from 24 seats to only 1 seat. Meanwhile, the CONG+ alliance is shown with 23 seats, reflecting a relatively stagnant position compared to the previous cycle. These figures collectively underscore a consolidation of voter support toward the BJP+ alliance, as seen in the live results.
While in Tamil Nadui, actor-turned-politician Vijay has stunned political observers as his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), surged past the 100-seat mark in early trends of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, signalling a strong debut performance.
As per initial counting trends, TVK is leading in 101 seats in the 234-member assembly, putting it well ahead of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led alliance, which is ahead in around 50 seats. The opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)-led alliance is trailing with leads in approximately 73 seats.
At 10.25 AM
EC bans victory rallies on counting day in West Bengal
No rallies celebrating the victory of candidates will be allowed anywhere in West Bengal on Monday, a senior official of the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office said. The official also said the poll panel is looking into complaints that agents of different parties were unable to reach counting centres.
At 10:09 AM
The 2026 West Bengal Assembly election results depict a significant political realignment characterised by a substantial surge for the BJP+ alliance at the expense of the TMC+. According to the data from India Today, the BJP+ alliance has reached 158 seats, marking a massive gain of +84 seats since the 2021 election. This rise corresponds directly with a sharp decline for the TMC+, which plummeted from 210 seats in 2021 to 119 seats, representing a loss of 91 seats. While smaller parties like the Congress (CONG) and the Left+ show marginal gains of +4 and +2 seats respectively, they remain minor players in what has become a consolidated two-party contest.
The shift in power is further supported by consistent reporting across other major news outlets. As per the NDTV dashboard shows the BJP leading with 150 seats, while the TMC+ trails at 103 seats. Similarly, News18 indicates the BJP at 142 seats, with the TMC+ at 107 seats. Given that the target for a majority in the 294-seat Assembly is 148 seats, these figures collectively suggest that the BJP+ has either successfully crossed or is on the verge of crossing the threshold required to form the next government, fundamentally shifting the state's political landscape away from TMC's previous dominance.
At 9:45 AM
BJP crosses majority in Bengal according to NDTV trends
According to the latest data from NDTV, the BJP+ has surged past the 148 majority mark in West Bengal, currently leading in 158 seats, which represents a massive gain of +84 compared to 2021.
In contrast, the TMC+ has seen a significant decline, falling to 119 seats, a drop of -91 from its previous tally. While News18 trends also show the BJP leading with 129 seats (+58) and the TMC+ at 112 seats (-62), the NDTV figures suggest a decisive victory for the saffron alliance.
These gains are further highlighted by the performance of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who is reportedly leading Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the high-stakes Bhabanipur seat and is also ahead in Nandigram. Beyond Bengal, News18 reports that the BJP+ has comfortably secured Assam with 84 seats, while in Kerala, the UDF has crossed the threshold with 86 seats. Tamil Nadu is witnessing a major political upheaval as the TVK leads with 90 seats in its debut, severely impacting the DMK+, which has slumped to 52 seats, a loss of -90.
At 9:18 AM
High-Stakes Leads for Suvendu Adhikari Amid Tight Bengal Race
As of the early morning trends on May 4, 2026, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari is reportedly leading in both the Nandigram and Bhabanipur constituencies.
In Bhabanipur, Adhikari is locked in a high-stakes contest against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while in Nandigram—a census town in the Purba Medinipur district known historically for the 2007 Special Economic Zone land movement—he seeks to retain the seat he won in 2021.
This personal performance aligns with broader state trends reflected as seen in the BJP surging to 119 seats, a massive gain of +51, while the TMC+ has slipped to 109 seats, a drop of -54. Despite these gains, both parties remain short of the 148 majority mark as counting continues following a historic voter turnout of over 92%.
Meanwhile, the BJP+ has already crossed the majority threshold in Assam with 69 seats, and the UDF has taken a decisive lead in Kerala with 72 seats, potentially unseating the LDF.
At 9:10 AM
Postal ballot counting ends in Puducherry, EVM votes counting begins. BJP leading in over 20 seats, as per latest trends.
At 9.05 AM
BJP surges in Bengal as UDF reclaims Kerala
The latest trends from the 2026 Assembly Election results as per News18 show a seismic shift in West Bengal, where the BJP has taken a significant lead with 119 seats, marking a massive gain of +51 over its 2021 performance. The TMC+ follows closely with 109 seats, reflecting a substantial drop of -54, leaving both major contenders still fighting to reach the 148 majority mark.
In Kerala, the UDF has crossed the majority threshold with 72 seats (+33), potentially unseating the LDF, which has slipped to 59 seats (-25). Meanwhile, Assam remains a stronghold for the BJP+, which has comfortably secured 69 seats to pass the 64 majority mark, while the INC+ trails with 13 seats.
In Tamil Nadu, the political landscape is being disrupted by the TVK, which has secured an impressive 41 seats in its debut, eating into the traditional vote shares of the DMK+ (57 seats, down -37) and the AIADMK+ (34 seats, down -4). None of the major alliances in Tamil Nadu have yet reached the 118 majority mark. Finally, in Puducherry, the BJP+ has retained a clear mandate, leading in 22 seats—well above the 16 majority mark—while the INC+ sits at 6 seats.
At 9.01 AM
Tension at vote-counting centre in Nagapattinam Government Arts College in Tamil Nadu
At 9 AM
BJP Gains Ground in Bengal as TVK Disrupts Tamil Nadu
The 2026 Assembly election results indicate a major political realignment, most notably in West Bengal where the BJP has surged to 117 seats—a gain of +49—while the TMC+ has seen its tally drop by -52 to 108 seats.
In Assam, the BJP+ has already crossed the 64 majority mark with 67 seats, leaving the INC+ with just 9 seats. Tamil Nadu is seeing a significant shift as the TVK has secured 30 seats in its debut, impacting the DMK+ which leads with 55 seats but is down by -24. Meanwhile, Kerala remains a close battle with the UDF leading at 66 seats compared to the LDF’s 64, and Puducherry has been comfortably called for the BJP+ with 22 seats.
At 8:52 AM
Neck and Neck contest in Bengal, Himanta set for second innings in Assam
The News18 election scoreboard seems to be trotting compared to the others. According to postal ballot trends depicting initial leads, the NDA has already crossed the halfway mark of 16 in a house of 30 by leading in 22 seats in Puducherry. In Tamil Nadu, actor Vijay's TVK is unlikely to replicate a NTR-like dramatic entry into politics with a lead only in 12 seats out of 234. The DMK is on course to retain the state with an initial lead in 52 seats. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is all set for a second innings as the NDA is leading in 63 seats out of 126. The majority mark in the northeastern state is 64 seats.
In Keralam, LDF is leading in 64 seats against 60 UDF in a house of 140. It is certainly not a UDF sweep as was predicted by many exit polls. Now in the volatile state of West Bengal, it is definitely a neck and neck contest with the BJP+ leading in 112 and the TMC in 110. It is too early to comment on who the next occupant of the Writer's Building will be in Kolkata, but it won't be an easy win for sure.
At 8:00 AM
Counting of votes begins across 4 states and one Union Territory
TMC vs BJP In West Bengal
In West Bengal, where polling was held for 294 seats, the contest is primarily between the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The election is being closely watched, particularly in the backdrop of the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which reportedly led to the removal of nearly 89 lakh voters, around 11.6 per cent of the electorate.
Three-Way Contest In Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu, with 234 seats, is witnessing a three-cornered contest. Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has entered the fray against the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led alliance, which includes Congress and DMDK, and the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) alliance with BJP and PMK.
In Assam, which has 126 seats, the BJP is aiming for a third consecutive term, banking on its governance record and organisational strength.
Can Congress-led UDF Win Kerala This Time?
Kerala’s 140-seat assembly election is set for a tight finish. The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) is seeking a third straight term, while exit polls have projected an edge for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). However, past trends suggest exit polls can be unreliable in the state.
In Puducherry, where voting took place for 30 seats, Chief Minister N Rangaswamy and his All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) are aiming to retain power for another term.
Voter Turnout In All States & UT
West Bengal recorded a historic voter turnout of 92.47 per cent, the highest since Independence, with 93.19 per cent in phase 1 and 91.66 per cent in phase 2. However, the result for the Falta seat will not be declared on Monday, as it will undergo repolling on May 21, with counting scheduled for May 24.
Tamil Nadu also saw a record turnout at 84.69 per cent. Kerala reported a final voter turnout of 78.27 per cent, while Assam’s turnout ranged between 85.38 per cent and 85.91 per cent. In Puducherry, voter participation was between 89.83 per cent and 89.87 per cent.
By the end of the day, the results are expected to provide clarity on which parties will retain power and where political shifts may occur across these regions.
