Assembly Election Results 2026 LIVE: Counting Begins; Who Will Win Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, Puducherry?

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.