As the counting of votes for the high-stakes assembly elections across five regions, including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry are underway, the spotlight is not just on political parties but also on key leaders whose performances will shape the power dynamics in their respective states. From West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and actor Vijay, several prominent faces are at the centre of attention.
How Key Candidates Are Performing?
West Bengal
In Bhabanipur, early trends from India Today indicate that BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari is trailing, while CM Mamata Banerjee is currently leading.
Not just Bhabanipur, Suvendu Adhikari is also leading from Nandigram, who is contesting against TMC's Pabitra Kar.
In Jorhat, Congress
In West Bengal, where polling was held for 294 seats, the contest is primarily between the ruling TMC and the BJP. Early trends show TMC trailing in 102 seats while BJP is leading in 140. 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
Tamil Nadu
From Kolathur, Chief Minister M K Stalin is currently trailing as per early trends from India Today. Stalin is facing a multi-cornered challenge from TVK's VS Babu, AIADMK's P Santhana Krishnan, and NTK's Soundara Pandian Louther Seth. In the 2021 elections, Stalin had won with a massive majority with 105,522 votes, while AIADMK's Aadi Rajaram had secured just 35,138 votes.
Actor Vijay is leading from Perambur, who is contesting against DMK's R D Shekar, A Rajaram from Republican Party of India, Ashlin Belmen A S from TMGMK and M Geeta from Thakkam Katchi. In 2021, R.D. Sekar from DMK had won from Perambur with 1,05,267 votes while AIADMK's NR Dhanapalan had secured 50,291 votes.
Speaking of the overall numbers in Tamil Nadu, Actor Vijay's TVK has currently emerged as the single largest party with 100 seats, followed by AIADMK with 70, while DMK has 47 seats.
Assam
According to early trends, Himanta Biswa Sarma is currently leading, while Congress candidate Bidisha Neog is trailing in Jalukbari.
Kerala
Kerala is witnessing another contest between the LDF and UDF, with the BJP attempting to expand its presence. From Dharmadam, Pinarayi Vijayan, who is seeking another term, the CM is currently trailing in early trends, while VP Abdul Rasheed is leading.
