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. 32,
How Key Candidates Are Performing?
West Bengal
In Bhabanipur, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari is trailing, while CM Mamata Banerjee is currently leading. Though after the second round of counting of votes, EC numbers showed that Adhikari was leading by about 1500 votes, however, now after the ninth round of counting, CM Banerjee has caught up. According to the current number released by the Election Commission, after the ninth round of counting, Banerjee has secured 38,328 votes, while Adhikari is trailing by 13,842 votes.
Suvendu Adhikari, who also contested from Nandigram against TMC's Pabitra Kar, is leading by over 12,000 votes. After the ninth round of counting of votes, Suvendu secured a massive 65,906 votes while Pabitra stood trailing with 52,940 votes. In West Bengal, the BJP is set to form a historic win as the party is currently leading in 194 seats, while TMC has secured 91 seats.
Tamil Nadu
Apart from losing the state, CM MK Stalin is also trailing from Kolathur, as EC data after the 15th round of counting showed Stalin securing 53,563 votes, while the TVK candidate VS Babu secured 60,637 votes. Kolatpur is facing a three-cornered challenge from TVK, AIADMK's P Santhana Krishnan, and DMK. 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. After the 10th round of counting, EC data showed that Vijay is leading with 55,344 votes, while DMK's R.D. Shekar has secured 32,137 votes. In 2021, R.D. Shekar 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 102 seats, followed by AIADMK with 49, while DMK has 62 seats.
Assam
According to early trends, Himanta Biswa Sarma is currently leading, while Congress candidate Bidisha Neog is trailing in Jalukbari. After the 13th round of counting, Sarma secured 89,562 votes while Bidisha Neog is far behind at 26,533 votes.
From Jorhat, Congress party’s deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, lost to BJP's Hitendra Nath Goswami. Gogoi was defeated by a huge margin of 23,182 votes, according to the ECI website. Gogoi contested the Assembly polls for the first time.
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, is leading while VP Abdul Rasheed is trailing. According to EC data, after the 13th round of counting, Congress candidate Rasheed has secured 62, 676 votes while Pinarayi Vijayan is leading with 74,476 votes.
