Election Results 2026 LIVE Updates: BJP Crosses Halfway Mark In Early Trends, DMK Takes Lead In Tamil Nadu

In early counting trends from Tamil Nadu, actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has taken a narrow lead, ahead in 43 seats. The AIADMK-led alliance, which includes the BJP and PMK, is close behind with leads in 40 seats, indicating a tightly contested race.

Early counting trends from Assam indicate a strong start for the BJP, which has surged past the majority mark of 64 seats and is currently leading in 68 constituencies, pointing towards a potential return to power.

As counting of EVM votes gets underway, early trends show the UDF maintaining a lead in Kerala, setting the tone for a closely watched contest.

The BJP has surged ahead in the Jhargram assembly constituency in early counting trends, according to data from the Election Commission, as vote counting for the West Bengal Assembly elections gets underway on Monday.

The BJP has taken a commanding lead in Assam, currently ahead in 53 seats and inching closer to the majority mark of 64, according to early counting trends.

Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP has surged ahead of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in early counting trends from the Bhabanipur constituency in the 2026 Assembly elections.

Adhikari, once a close confidant of Banerjee, had delivered a major upset in the previous election by defeating her in Nandigram by a narrow margin, forcing the Trinamool Congress chief to shift to Bhabanipur to remain in the Assembly. Early trends now suggest another closely watched contest unfolding.

With the BJP leading in 85 seats in early counting for West Bengal, senior Trinamool Congress leader and MP Professor Saugata Roy cautioned against reading too much into the numbers. He said the current figures are based on postal ballots and do not reflect any clear trend yet, urging patience until more rounds of counting are completed. 

In Kerala, the 2026 Assembly election has shaped up as a direct contest between the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), with the BJP-led NDA aiming to expand its footprint in the state. The 140-member Legislative Assembly requires a majority mark of 71 seats to form the government, setting the stage for a closely watched outcome.

Early counting trends show the BJP gaining an initial edge, leading in around 50 seats. In Tamil Nadu, the DMK-led alliance, which includes Congress and DMDK, is ahead in 35 seats, while the AIADMK-BJP-PMK combine is currently leading in 21 constituencies.

Early counting trends from West Bengal show the BJP leading in 44 seats, pulling ahead of the Trinamool Congress, which is currently ahead in 18 constituencies. The initial numbers indicate a competitive contest, with more clarity expected as counting progresses.

Early counting trends show TVK chief Vijay leading in one constituency while trailing in another, indicating a mixed start for the party.

In Puducherry, the NDA alliance led by the All India NR Congress (AINRC), NRC , is leading in three seats.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin is leading in Kolathur seat. 

Initial trends from the counting of postal ballots in Tamil Nadu indicate an early advantage for the ruling DMK, offering the first signs of momentum as vote counting gets underway. 

In Thiruvananthapuram, Congress MP Jebi Mather expressed strong confidence in a decisive victory for the Congress-led UDF in Kerala, PTI reported. She said the alliance is expecting to cross the 100-seat mark, and at the very least secure over 85 seats. Mather asserted that there is “no doubt” the state will see a Congress Chief Minister and a UDF government once results are declared.

Aam Janata Unnayan Party founder Humyaun Kabir on Monday alleged lapses in arrangements at a counting centre in Baharampur, West Bengal, as vote counting began, according to PTI.

Speaking from Murshidabad district, Kabir said counting agents were facing inadequate seating and pointed to gaps in security at the venue. He urged the Election Commission of India to step in and ensure better facilities and tighter security across counting centres.

Counting for the high-stakes West Bengal Assembly elections began at 8 am, with results expected to indicate whether Mamata Banerjee secures a fourth consecutive term or the Bharatiya Janata Party makes significant inroads in the state.

As counting gets underway for West Bengal’s 293 assembly seats, state BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya expressed confidence in a decisive victory, asserting that voters have rejected the ruling Trinamool Congress. Speaking outside a counting centre in Kolkata, he framed the election as a contest between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the people, claiming the results would reflect a clear mandate against the incumbent government.

DMK, Vijay’s TVK lead in one seat each as first trends come in.

Both the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposing BJP are leading in one seat each in West Bengal show early trends.

Counting of votes is underway for Assembly elections held across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry. Postal ballots are being taken up first, with early trends expected shortly. A total of 823 seats are at stake.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan updated his social media bio, now identifying himself as a Polit Bureau member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

Vijayan, seeking a rare third consecutive term, is contesting from his stronghold amid a more competitive race this time. The Congress-led United Democratic Front has fielded V P Abdul Rasheed, while K Ranjith is in the fray for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

Tensions flared outside a counting centre in Bhabanipur on Monday morning as agents of the Trinamool Congress and BJP engaged in a verbal clash ahead of vote counting for the West Bengal Assembly elections, ANI reported. The dispute reportedly centred on alleged discrepancies in rules for carrying materials inside the counting hall, with both sides accusing each other of violating norms.

The confrontation comes just hours before counting begins at 8 am across all 293 constituencies. Authorities have deployed a three-tier security system, including CAPF personnel and CCTV surveillance, to ensure a smooth and transparent counting process.

Counting of votes for all 126 Assembly seats in Assam will begin at 8:00 am, with the BJP aiming for a third consecutive term. The process will start with ballot box votes, including those cast by armed forces personnel, followed by the counting of EVM votes.

Exit polls suggest a strong advantage for the BJP-led NDA, with a poll of polls projecting around 92 seats for the alliance, well above the majority mark of 64. Most estimates place the NDA in the 85–100 seat range, while the Congress-led bloc is seen trailing in the 20–35 seat bracket, indicating a likely comfortable victory for the ruling alliance if these trends hold.

Tamil Nadu is shaping up for a tightly contested verdict, with exit polls offering sharply divergent projections. While some surveys suggest a second straight win for the DMK-Congress alliance led by MK Stalin, others indicate a possible comeback for the AIADMK-led NDA under Edappadi K Palaniswami.

A key wildcard this election is actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which several polls project could secure a significant vote share and potentially play a decisive role. Estimates for TVK vary widely, from under 15 seats in some surveys to nearly 100 in others, highlighting the uncertainty.

The Congress is keenly watching the outcome as it looks to retain relevance in the state, though DMK has signalled it may govern independently. Tamil Nadu recorded over 85% voter turnout across all 234 seats polled in a single phase on April 23.

With projections ranging from comfortable leads for DMK to a clear edge for AIADMK , the state remains one of the most unpredictable battlegrounds in this election cycle.

West Bengal is one of the most closely watched electoral contests in the country, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee aiming to retain the Trinamool Congress’s 15-year stronghold amid a fierce challenge from the BJP.

The state, which delivered a decisive mandate to the TMC in 2021 with over 200 seats, is witnessing a far more competitive race this time, with the BJP significantly expanding its organisational presence and campaign intensity.

A key variable in this election is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which saw nearly 91 lakh names being removed, an exercise the TMC has criticised as rushed and politically motivated. The party has sought to turn this into a campaign issue, urging voters to respond through the ballot.

Exit polls remain sharply divided. While Praja Poll projects a strong surge for the BJP with 178–208 seats and a reduced tally for the TMC, Janmat Polls suggests a scenario closer to 2021, giving the TMC a clear lead.

As counting progresses, early trends will be crucial in determining whether the incumbent retains control or if West Bengal is headed for a major political shift.

Security has been stepped up at a counting centre in Siliguri as West Bengal awaits vote results after a two-phase election marked by repolling in select booths, PTI reported. The Election Commission has also ordered a fresh vote in all 285 booths of Falta on May 21. BJP candidate Durga Murmu called it a “historic election”, expressing confidence that Bengal will see a change.

The Election Commission of India said it will ensure the “highest standards of transparency, security and efficiency” as counting gets underway today. Votes are being tallied for Assembly polls in five states and bye-elections across seven constituencies.

The stage is set for counting of votes in Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry.

A total of 823 seats are at stake after a high-intensity, multi-phase polling exercise through April. Today’s counting will decide whether incumbents hold ground or challengers rewrite the script.