TMC Press Conference at Kalighat. (Express Photo by Partha Paul/Enhanced using AI)ECI Election Results 2026 | West Bengal (WB), Tamil Nadu (TN), Kerala, Assam Election Result 2026: Mamata Banerjee launched a strong attack on the Election Commission and the BJP after her party’s defeat, alleging large-scale manipulation and calling the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar a “villain” of the election. Banerjee has also alleged physical assault and claimed that she was pushed, and forcefully expelled out of the polling station. Building on these claims, she said that TMC has won these elections, and won’t resign from her post as the Chief Minister.
Speaking in Kolkata, Banerjee accused authorities of misusing institutions, claiming EVM irregularities, mass deletion of voter names during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), and targeted action against her party workers. She alleged that around 90 lakh names were removed from voter rolls, with only partial restoration after court intervention, and questioned the integrity of the electoral process. She also alleged “direct interference” by top BJP leadership, including Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, calling the election unprecedented and deeply compromised. She further said the elections were unlike any she had witnessed in her political career, accusing the system of being misused and describing the situation as unprecedented.
As counting for the 2026 Assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry concluded on May 4, the results marked several firsts: Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerged as the single largest party in Tamil Nadu, the BJP registered its first-ever landslide win in West Bengal, and opened its account in Kerala with 3 seats.
Reacting to the outcome, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the verdict as a turning point, signalling a new phase for the states and reaffirming faith in democratic processes and development politics, while urging a shift towards “badlav, not badla.”
Constituency-wise Winners List: Tamil Nadu Election Result | West Bengal Election Result
TVK’s historic win in Tamil Nadu: The 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election marks a decisive political shift, with Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerging as the single largest party with 108 seats, disrupting the state’s long-standing Dravidian dominance. The DMK secured 75 seats, while the AIADMK won 50. More than routine anti-incumbency, the verdict reflects a conscious shift by voters away from the current leadership of both Dravidian majors—a deeper, quieter rejection. This was especially evident in urban centres like Chennai, where traditional voting patterns broke down and TVK made significant gains.
Winners List: Kerala Election Result | Assam Election Result
LDF Rout, UDF Surge: With the Congress-led UDF winning 95 seats, the LDF reduced to 34, and others securing 11, the Kerala verdict marks a decisive anti-incumbency wave. The scale of the UDF’s victory exceeded expectations, driven by strong performances from the Congress and its allies, including gains aided by LDF rebels. The rout has left the CPM weakened, raising questions over Pinarayi Vijayan’s leadership and the party’s future in its last major bastion.
Election Results Live Counting & Trends | Election Results – Party & Constituency Wise
The Election Commission of India has issued formal notifications for the constitution of new Legislative Assemblies in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry following the completion of the 2026 elections.
MK Stalin holds a roadshow in Kolathur Assembly constituency on Tuesday after losing the elections from the seat by 8,795 votes.
VIDEO | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: MK Stalin (@mkstalin) holds roadshow in Kolathur Assembly constituency day after losing the elections from the seat by 8,795 votes.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 5, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7)#tamilnadu #chennai pic.twitter.com/D8xl0BACSX
While addressing her press conference, Mamata Banerjee claimed that 100 of TMC's seats are stolen in the elections, and that her battle is with the Election Commission of India, and not the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Mamata claimed TMC has won these elections, and won't resign from her post as the Chief Minister of West Bengal.
Mamata Banerjee launched a strong attack on the Election Commission and the BJP after her party’s defeat, alleging large-scale manipulation and calling the Chief Election Commissioner a “villain” of the election.
Speaking in Kolkata, Banerjee accused authorities of misusing institutions, claiming EVM irregularities, mass deletion of voter names during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), and targeted action against her party workers. She alleged that around 90 lakh names were removed from voter rolls, with only partial restoration after court intervention, and questioned the integrity of the electoral process.
She also alleged “direct interference” by top BJP leadership, including Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, calling the election unprecedented and deeply compromised.
#watch | Kolkata: Outgoing West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says, "Sad to say, CEC became the villain of this election to loot the democratic rights of the people and to loot the EVM. Can you tell me that after voting EVM has 80-90% charge? How is it possible? Two days before the… pic.twitter.com/b9Dc1npwWq
— ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2026
Mamata Banerjee alleged large-scale irregularities and “direct interference” by central leadership following her party’s defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections.
Addressing a press conference, Banerjee claimed that lakhs of voter names were deleted from electoral rolls, alleging that around 90 lakh names were removed, with only some restored after legal intervention. She also questioned the inclusion of additional names later, calling the process “dirty” and “mischievous”.
She further said the elections were unlike any she had witnessed in her political career, accusing the system of being misused and describing the situation as unprecedented.
VIDEO | Addressing a press conference after the defeat in the West Bengal Elections 2026, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee says, “We fought against the entire machinery, with the Prime Minister and the Home Minister also involved, there was direct interference. They deleted 90 lakh… pic.twitter.com/eF2L9AmBzx
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 5, 2026
Mamata Banerjee has alleged physical assault and claimed that she was pushed, and forcefully expelled out of the polling station.
Mamata Banerjee alleged that TMC workers were arrested two days before the polls, claiming that the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar became the main villain in the entire electoral process of West Bengal polls.
Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo thanked voters in Assam and West Bengal for supporting the BJP, crediting the party’s national leadership and campaign efforts for the victories.
Singh Deo said the BJP’s success was driven by the leadership of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, along with organisational efforts led by party leaders and workers. He highlighted that in Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma earned public trust, resulting in the party’s return to power.
On West Bengal, he claimed the election was challenging due to what he described as “anarchy” under the previous government, adding that improved security arrangements enabled voters to participate freely.
#watch | Bhubaneswar: Odisha DY CM Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo says, "On this occasion, I would like to thank the voters of both Assam and Bengal states for voting to bring the BJP to power in both states... This was made possible due to the election campaign efforts of BJP National… pic.twitter.com/OUApox1Fp7
— ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2026
Uttar Pradesh deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya launched a sharp attack on the opposition, claiming the Samajwadi Party will be “wiped out” in the 2027 UP polls and dismissing allegations of electoral malpractice.
Speaking in Prayagraj, Maurya said parties backed by Akhilesh Yadav have consistently failed, asserting that the SP faces a similar fate in the next Assembly elections.
Responding to remarks by Rahul Gandhi on “election chori”, Maurya said the claims reflect frustration, arguing that if elections were influenced by institutions like the Election Commission or central forces, the BJP would have formed governments in states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well. (PTI)
VIDEO | Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya says, "Parties that Akhilesh Yadav has supported have been wiped out... SP too will be wiped out in 2027 UP polls."
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 5, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7)#uttarpradesh pic.twitter.com/NuBG2EAANb
VIDEO | Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: "His frustration is showing; If we won elections on the basis of EC, SIR, and central forces, we would have formed BJP govts in Kerala and Tamil Nadu too," says UP Deputy CM Maurya on Rahul Gandhi’s 'election chori' remark.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 5, 2026
(Full video available… pic.twitter.com/ITMPWDnJk7
Actor-politician Vijay returns to his Neelankarai residence after holding a meeting with TVK MLAs amid post-result discussions. (PTI)
VIDEO | Chennai: TVK leader Vijay reaches home in Neelankarai after meeting party MLAs. pic.twitter.com/RW35RFiXSi
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 5, 2026
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said the BJP’s victory in West Bengal reflects the people’s mandate and must be respected, while blaming “so-called secular parties” for failing to effectively counter the party’s rise.
Speaking in Hyderabad, Owaisi argued that opposition parties have been unable to stop the BJP’s growth across states, citing examples from Delhi, Maharashtra, and West Bengal. He criticised what he described as a shift towards “soft Hindutva” by leaders like Arvind Kejriwal and Uddhav Thackeray, as well as strategies adopted by Mamata Banerjee and the All India Trinamool Congress.
VIDEO | Hyderabad: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, addressing a press conference, said,
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 5, 2026
"The people of West Bengal have given power to the BJP, and that decision must be respected. It is the mandate of the people. I have consistently maintained that these so-called secular… pic.twitter.com/e5VOwHXcxU
BJP's spokesperson Ajay Alok said, "Rahul Gandhi has lost his mind; no vote theft in Kerala but it happened in other states", while responding to the Congress MP's allegations over vote theft in West Bengal elections. (PTI)
VIDEO | "Rahul Gandhi has lost his mind; no vote theft in Kerala but it happened in other states", says BJP's Ajay Alok on Congress MP's allegations over vote theft in Bengal.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 5, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/1jYFAtFQwS
In a heartfelt message to supporters, MK Stalin posted on X thanking voters who backed the DMK-led alliance in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, calling each vote a mark of trust. He noted that the alliance secured 1.54 crore votes, with only a narrow 3.52% vote share gap separating it from the winning party, and urged candidates to personally thank the electorate. Emphasising that the DMK would continue to serve the people, whether in power or in opposition, Stalin reaffirmed the party’s commitment to its ideology and the legacy of Periyar, Anna and Karunanidhi, while expressing confidence in a future comeback.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsநடந்து முடிந்த தமிழ்நாடு சட்டமன்றப் பொதுத் தேர்தலில் திராவிட முன்னேற்றக் கழகத்தின் தலைமையிலான மதச்சார்பற்ற முற்போக்குக் கூட்டணிக் கட்சியின் வேட்பாளர்களுக்கு வாக்களித்த தமிழ்நாட்டு மக்கள் அனைவருக்கும் எனது மனமார்ந்த நன்றியை உண்மை உணர்வுடன் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன்.
— M.K.Stalin - தமிழ்நாட்டை தலைகுனிய விடமாட்டேன் (@mkstalin) May 5, 2026
உங்கள்…
While offering prayers at the Kali Bari temple in New Delhi, BJP president Nitin Nabin said that West Bengal's culture and legacy can only move forward in the leadership of PM Modi. He further said, "I congratulate the people of West Bengal. I have come here to bow my head infront of Maa Kali after the victory that we got in the lands of Maa Kali and Maa Kamakhya. I believe that Maa Kali, Maa Durga, Maa Kamakhya will bless us all that we continue to work under the leadership of our leader PM Modi for country's development."
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsVIDEO | Delhi: BJP president Nitin Nabin offers prayers at Kali Bari temple, says, "I congratulate the people of West Bengal. I have come here to bow my head infront of Maa Kali after the victory that we got in the lands of Maa Kali and Maa Kamakhya. I believe that Maa Kali, Maa… pic.twitter.com/HnSJdFCckI
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 5, 2026
Senior Congress leader and former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram congratulated actor-turned-politician Vijay and his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) after it emerged as the single largest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections 2026. Chidambaram said, "My heartfelt congratulations to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, which emerged as the single largest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, and to its leader, Mr. Vijay! My thanks to the workers of the Secular Progressive Alliance and their tireless election efforts! We accept the verdict of the people of Tamil Nadu; may good governance prevail."
The 2023 delimitation exercise emerged as a key factor behind the NDA’s landslide win of 102 seats in Assam’s 126-member Assembly, as it redrew constituencies in a way that reduced the influence of minority-dominated strongholds. Several Muslim-majority seats were either fragmented or reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, cutting the minority vote impact from about 35 seats to fewer than 25. This shift significantly weakened the Congress and AIUDF, with the latter dropping from 16 seats to just 2, while most opposition wins remained confined to areas unaffected by delimitation.
Terming the election results a “historic and unprecedented” day heralding both a new dawn in West Bengal as well as trust in the politics of development in India’s democracy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underlined the BJP’s commitment to delivering on development in line with the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’.
Addressing party leaders and workers at the BJP headquarters on Monday evening, the PM expressed gratitude to voters of West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry for putting up a united front amid the global uncertainty triggered by the ongoing West Asia crisis by exercising their franchise in favour of stability in governance.
He urged all political players in Bengal to “move beyond” the vicious cycle of political violence which had engulfed it for decades. “As Bengal enters this new phase, I also appeal to other parties for change in habits. Today, when the BJP has won, not ‘badla’ (revenge) but ‘badlav’ (change) needs to be talked about; not ‘bhay’ (fear) but ‘bhavishya’ (future) should be spoken of,” he said.
As the Trinamool Congress (TMC) trailed behind the BJP through the day in West Bengal, the final nail came as the day ended — party chief and outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lost to the BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari by over 15,000 votes in Bhabanipur.
Speaking to reporters outside the counting centre, Banerjee alleged that the BJP had “looted more than 100 seats”, adding that it was an “immoral” and “illegal” victory.
“BJP looted more than 100 seats. The Election Commission is the BJP’s commission,” she said, adding that she had complained to the chief electoral officer, but no action was taken.
Read | BJP scores ‘poribortan’ in Bengal, Vijay’s smash-hit debut in Tamil Nadu, Congress reclaims Kerala
“Do you think this is a victory? It is an immoral victory, not a moral victory. Whatever the Election Commission has done, along with the central forces, the Prime Minister and Home Minister, is totally illegal. It is loot, loot, loot. We will bounce back,” she said.
The West Bengal Assembly polls, which are set to give the BJP its first government in the state, have some similarities with the 2011 polls, when Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) first came to power dethroning the Buddhadeb Bhattacharya-led Left regime. However, there are some divergences too.
The most obvious similarity is that both elections saw a long stint of a party rule reversed – if the BJP unseated Banerjee after 15 years, the TMC on its part had in 2011 ended 34 years of Left rule in the state. Both verdicts were clear – the BJP crossed 200 seats in Bengal this time, and the TMC and the Congress in alliance had crossed 225 seats in 2011. If the TMC has fallen below 100 this time, the Left Front had fallen below 65 seats in 2011.
Yet another similarity is that governance and law and order were issues at the forefront in both the elections. This time, the R G Kar Hospital rape and murder case was a major issue, and the BJP also fielded the victim’s mother Ratna Debnath from Panihati. Debnath was well-placed to win her election by late evening. Allegations of violence by TMC workers in the Bengal hinterland and corruption charges against TMC ministers were also flying thick and fast before the elections.
Vikas Pathak
How did the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls play out in the West Bengal results? While the final numbers are still being firmed up, two early trends are telling: of the 20 seats that saw the highest number of deletions (see chart) after adjudication, the TMC won 13, the BJP six and the Congress one; and in the 187 seats, which saw over 5,000 names deleted, the BJP won or was leading in 119.
Overall, in these 187 seats -- results were available for 170 and leads for 17 -- the number of excluded voters was higher than the margin of victory or leads in 47 seats, an analysis by The Indian Express shows.
In the BJP's tally of 119, 28 had a higher number of deletions than the victory margin of the party's candidates. Of these 28 seats, the TMC had emerged victorious in 26 in 2021, the analysis shows.
Similarly, the TMC won or was on course to win 65 of those 187 seats, of which 18 recorded deletions higher than the victory margin -- two seats were won by the Congress and one by Aam Janata Unnayan Party.
The 20 seats with maximum deletions are: Samserganj (74775 deletions, winner TMC); Lalgola (55420, TMC); Bhagabangola (47493, TMC); Raghunathganj (46100, TMC); Metiaburz (39579, TMC); Farakka (38222, Cong); Suti (37965, TMC); Mothabari (37255, TMC); Jangipur (36581, BJP); Ratua (35573, BJP); Karandighi (31562, BJP); Goalpokhar (31384, TMC); Malatipur (29489, TMC); Chopra (27898, TMC); Sujapur (26829, TMC); Ketugram (26780, BJP); Rajarhat New Town (24132, TMC); Basirhat Uttar (23900, TMC); Manickchak (23726, BJP); Monteswar (23423, BJP).
Results and leads were declared Monday for a total of 293 seats in West Bengal, with repolling to be held in Falta on May 21.
Damini Nath & Sandeep Singh
With post-poll violence a recurrent feature of West Bengal’s electoral cycle, security forces deployed for the Assembly elections have been asked to stay back for an extended period to prevent any breakdown of law and order. Following a landslide victory in which the BJP has crossed the 200-seat mark, defeating the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the party leadership is learnt to have instructed its cadres to maintain restraint.
“The forces that have been stationed in the state will remain there for a few days. It is important to ensure the law and order is not disrupted by either the TMC or the BJP workers. There is a culture in Bengal to target rival cadres, and even supporters, after elections,” a security establishment officer said, adding while the strength of deployment would be gradually reduced, “a sizeable force will remain in state for next few weeks to ensure political targeting of opponents does not take place”.
According to sources, even as the BJP leadership has issued appeals for calm, local police and Central forces have been asked to stay on alert. “The TMC is unlikely to create trouble as they have been decisively defeated. However, there is fear that some BJP cadres may engage in triumphant violence. The BJP cadres have not been imported from outside. They are groomed in the same culture of violent electoral dynamics of the state. While it would be difficult to create mischief in urban areas, it is not easy to maintain comprehensive vigil of rural areas,” another officer said.
Deeptiman Tiwary
It is a political plight generations of comrades have not seen or experienced. With the CPI(M)-led LDF suffering a defeat in Kerala, India will not have a Communist chief minister for the first time in five decades.
The Left bloc was in power in West Bengal from 1977 to 2011. It ruled Tripura from 1993 to 2018. And in Kerala, it returned to power every five years and convincingly broke the trend in 2021.
While Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress ended the 34-year Guinness record-worthy Left Front rule in West Bengal in 2011, the 25-year-old Left Front rule in Tripura came to an end with the BJP surprisingly decimating it in 2018. The BJP repeated the feat in 2023.
The Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front government in Kerala, which came to power in 2016, was the last Communist outpost that crumbled today. For the first time since 1977, there will be no Communist chief minister in India.
This will further erode the Left bloc’s uncanny political ability to intervene in national politics. All these years, the leaders of the CPM and CPI - along with the RSP and Forward Bloc - ensured that the Left bloc punched much above its electoral heft in national politics. Its political heft came largely from the three states of West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. The Left now has one MP from these three states.
Manoj C G
The Congress cancelled a press conference scheduled for Monday evening, with leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Jairam Ramesh choosing to take to social media to thank the people of Kerala for its victory in the state, while admitting disappointment over the election results elsewhere.
The posts on X summed up the day for the Opposition, with the Congress’s return in Kerala barely offsetting the loss of three big names across three states — leaving the INDIA bloc staring down the barrel, struggling to navigate a political landscape characterized by intense voter polarisation even as its leaders battle a credibility crisis.
Mamata Banerjee and M K Stalin, two of the most vociferous Opposition voices, were toppled by the BJP and Vijay’s TVK in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, respectively. While the victory in Kerala was a respite for the Congress, it was at the expense of another towering Opposition figure, Pinarayi Vijayan. The fact that it now has no counterweight within the INDIA bloc — a victorious Mamata would have again demanded that the Congress hand over the leadership mantle — may delight some Congress hearts. But they will be few and far between, with the Pyrrhic nature of this relief hard to ignore under the BJP’s yawning shadow.
The BJP conquered Bengal, its last frontier in the East, after Odisha in 2024, and didn’t just retain Assam, but also increased its seats in the state. The wins come on the heels of BJP victories in Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana and Bihar over the past two years, and the party now has 17 CMs — resembling an era when Congress had complete electoral hegemony — with absolute dominance just not in the East, but also the Hindi heartland in the North, and the West.
Manoj C G
Flex boards, party banners and festoons at Trinamool Congress offices across West Bengal were allegedly defaced and damaged following the BJP's landslide victory in the Assembly polls on Monday, even as the saffron party denied any role in the incidents, officials said on Monday.
The TMC claimed that hours after poll trends became clear, "miscreants" gathered outside its offices at Baruipur in South 24 Parganas, Tufanganj in Cooch Behar and Panihati in North 24 Parganas and vandalised them. (PTI)
In a post on X, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said, " Assam and Bengal are clear cases of the election being stolen by the BJP with the support of the EC. We agree with Mamata ji. More than 100 seats were stolen in Bengal. We have seen this playbook before: Madhya Pradesh. Haryana. Maharashtra. Lok Sabha 2024 etc."
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsAssam and Bengal are clear cases of the election being stolen by the BJP with the support of the EC.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 4, 2026
We agree with Mamata ji. More than 100 seats were stolen in Bengal.
We have seen this playbook before:
Madhya Pradesh.
Haryana.
Maharashtra.
Lok Sabha 2024 etc
चुनाव चोरी,…
The high-voltage Bhabanipur contest turned on its head on Monday, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slipping behind BJP's Suvendu Adhikari after sharp swings, capping a steady erosion of her early lead in one of the state's most closely watched battles.
After 18 rounds of counting, Banerjee was trailing by 11,003 votes, according to an official. The EC website, however, shows the trailing margin at 10,994, with the Trinamool Congress supremo polling 56,245 votes against Adhikari's 67239.
Two more rounds will be counted in the 20-round process.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's wish to see the BJP's rise in electoral politics in Kerala now rests on its three entrants to the state Assembly, among whom are two former union ministers.
The BJP in Kerala, which has long struggled to secure a political foothold in a state traditionally witnessing a bipolar contest between the LDF and UDF, on Monday made significant gains in the Assembly elections by winning three seats.
TVK chief Vijay on Monday won from Perambur constituency by defeating his DMK rival R D Shekar in the Assembly elections held on April 23. He later received his certificate at Loyola College counting centre.
Following TVK's victory in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke with party chief Vijay on Monday to congratulate him on the win, emphasising that the mandate reflects the growing voice of the youth, which cannot be ignored.
In a post on X, Gandhi reiterated that the Congress will continue to protect and serve the people of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
"I spoke to Thiru Vijay and congratulated him on TVK's spectacular result. This mandate reflects the rising voice of youth, which cannot, and will not, be ignored," he said in his post.
PM Modi said in his address, "Maoism which is ending in the country is finding root in the Congress. Congress should not forget: what has been rejected by the people, those who accept it will also be rejected. The country has made it clear that it does not want vivad but vikas."
PM Modi said in his address, "Today, we are also seeing that there is no state in India where there is a communist party government. This is not just a change in politics but in thinking. It tells that today’s India wants to move in a different direction. Today’s Bharat wants development, progress, stability…politics of development. When the country has sidelined communism, the Congress is embracing it."
PM Modi said in his address, "Nari Shakti is another pillar of Viksit Bharat. But the Congress tried to stop it…these parties did not let the Nari Shakti Adhiniyam pass in Parliament. I had cautioned such parties they will have to face the ire of women. Today, the Congress party, TMC and DMK have been punished by the women of this country."
PM Modi said during his address, "There should be a change in the political habits of the state. Today when the BJP has won, not badla but badlav needs to be talked about. Not bhay, bhavishya should be spoken off let us end this endless circle of violence."
PM Modi said during his address, "Women will get an atmosphere of security, the youth will get employment, migration will stop. In the first cabinet, the Ayushman Bharat yojana will get approval. The strictest action will also be taken against infiltrators."
PM Modi said during his address, "This evening of May 4 may be drawing to a close but in the holy land of Bengal a new sunrise has taken place. A morning which was awaited by generations. The number of seats the BJP won are not just an electoral statistic. From today, a journey of the future of Bengal has begun where development, trust will walk hand in hand. Today, I assure each citizen of Bengal — BJP will work for the development of Bengal day and night."
PM Modi said during his address, "Today, more than 30 states of India have BJP-NDA govts. We are committed to the service of the people. People are seeing that where there is BJP, there is development."
"Today, as a BJP karyakarta, there is something in my mind: in 1951, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee had given the dictum that you have to live and die for the nation. Dr. Mukherjee had waged a big battle to keep West Bengal as part of India. The dream he had envisioned of a developed Bengal was awaiting for years to be realised," he said.
PM Modi said, "In 2013, when the BJP gave me the responsibility of being PM…I had said neither have I come on my own nor have I been sent but Mother Ganga has called me. With Ganga ji, we have also been blessed by Brahmaputra and Ma Kamakhya. Because of this, we have scored a hattrick in Assam."
PM Modi said, "Last year on November 14, when the Bihar results came, from the same venue, I had told all of you that Ganga ji flows forward towards Ganga Sagar from Bihar. Today, from Gangotri to Ganga Sagar, only the lotus blooms."
PM Modi said during his address, "Democracy is in our veins. Not just India’s democracy, its constitution too has won today."
PM Modi said during his address, "After BJP president Nitin Nabin took over three are the first assembly elections. The guidance that each worker got from him in these elections is invaluable."
PM Modi said while addressing BJP workers at the party's headquarters in New Delhi, "Today’s day is historic, unprecedented; the happiness which accompanies years of penance materialising into results, I am seeing that happiness on the BJP’s workers."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi on Monday evening, and is expected to address the party workers shortly
Congress said in a statement that Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi spoke to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin over their parties' performances in the assembly elections, and congratulated Vijay over TVK's win in Tamil Nadu, reported PTI.
PM Modi, in another post on X, said, "The Lotus blooms in West Bengal! The 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections will be remembered forever. People's power has prevailed and BJP's politics of good governance has triumphed. I bow to each and every person of West Bengal. The people have given a spectacular mandate to BJP and I assure them that our Party will do everything possible to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of the people of West Bengal. We will provide a Government that ensures opportunity and dignity to all sections of society."
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThe Lotus blooms in West Bengal!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 4, 2026
The 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections will be remembered forever. People's power has prevailed and BJP's politics of good governance has triumphed. I bow to each and every person of West Bengal.
The people have given a spectacular mandate to…
In his first statement on the assembly election results today, PM Modi lauded the efforts of BJP leaders and party workers on the massive win in West Bengal.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsBJP’s record win in West Bengal would not be possible without the efforts and struggles of countless Karyakartas over generations. I salute them all. For years, they have worked hard on the ground, overcome all sorts of adversities and spoken about our development agenda. They…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 4, 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the contribution of "countless" party workers for its record victory in West Bengal.
Taking to X, he wrote: "BJP’s record win in West Bengal would not be possible without the efforts and struggles of countless Karyakartas over generations. I salute them all. For years, they have worked hard on the ground, overcome all sorts of adversities and spoken about our development agenda. They are the strength of our Party."
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin was trailing in Kolathur Assembly constituency in Chennai with TVK candidate V S Babu taking a lead, as the counting of votes for the Assembly elections in underway.
According to Election Commission data on Monday, Babu got 82,997 votes at the end of 22nd round and Stalin received 74,202 votes.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, as of 5 pm on Monday evening, is leading from the Bhabanipur constituency seat by 5349 votes in the 13th round of vote counting. There will be a total of 20 total rounds for the seat. She has taken a decent lead against BJP candidate and potential CM face in Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari.
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram on Monday congratulated actor-turned-politician Vijay on the "spectacular electoral success" of TVK on debut in Tamil Nadu.
Significantly, in the run-up to the assembly polls, a section of Tamil Nadu Congress leaders wanted their party to tie up with TVK but the party leadership went with the alliance with DMK which has been handed a drubbing at the hands of the TVK.
"Congratulations @actorvijay @TVKVijayHQ on a spectacular electoral success on debut. Bravo!" Karti Chidambaram, the MP from Sivaganga, said on X.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsCongratulations @actorvijay @TVKVijayHQ on a spectacular electoral success on debut. Bravo!
— Karti P Chidambaram (@KartiPC) May 4, 2026
The BJP has won six seats and was leading in 196 seats, while the TMC has bagged one as the counting of votes in West Bengal Assembly polls progressed on Monday, indicating a saffron surge in the state.
According to Election Commission data, the BJP has already secured victory in Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Monteswar, Bhatar, Medinipur and Asansol Dakshin seats.
On the other hand, the TMC retained the Bhagawangola seat in Murshidabad district, with its candidate Reyat Hossain Sarkar defeating his nearest candidate by a margin of 56,407. The party is leading in 87 other seats.
Pleasantly surprised by their seat tally of around 193 in West Bengal as of 2 pm on Monday (May 4), overshooting internal party estimates of bagging 185-plus Assembly seats, the BJP attributed its sweep of the state to several factors broadly falling under five categories.
With what party insiders termed the core issues of “security”, whether this was in the context of the law and order condition in the state under 15 years of TMC rule, to “assurance” over the Dearness Allowance and pension of state government employees or Centre-led development, these are the reasons that party insiders attributed the party’s win in West Bengal to -
Former Union minister V Muraleedharan Kazhakoottam seat. With this, the BJP has won 3 seats in Kerala. Muraleedharan defeated CPI-M's sitting legislator Kadakampally Surendran. Other two seats were also with Left.
BJP leader Agnimitra Paul has won the Asansol Dakshin Assembly constituency.
The BJP won THE Monteswar seat while the TMC retained Bhagawangola, according to the assembly poll results declared by the ECI so far.
From LoP Suvendu Adhikari, once one of Mamata Banerjee’s close associates, to current state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya and former state chief Dilip Ghosh, the party has several names to choose from for the CM's post. Read here who can be Bengal's next CM.
As the BJP-led NDA surges to a two-thirds majority in Assam, the verdict is being read as a reaffirmation of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s political dominance.
Yet, beneath the headline numbers lies a structural shift that may have decisively influenced the outcome — the 2023 delimitation exercise that redrew the state’s electoral map.
The most visible casualty is the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), which has collapsed from 16 seats in 2021 to leads in just two constituencies. Its decline, analysts say, is not merely political but geographical.
BJP is organising fish curry parties in various party offices.
BJP workers and supporters continue their celebrations at a counting centre in Bhabanipur. The party is currently leading on 193 seats, way past the majority mark.
In Bhabanipur, Mamata Banerjee has a lead of over 7,000 seats against Suvendu Adhikari.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js#watch | West Bengal Elections 2026 | BJP workers and supporters continue their celebrations at a counting centre in Bhabanipur.
— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2026
The party is currently leading on 193 seats, way past the majority mark. pic.twitter.com/JctzFbnL0v
At 3 PM, here's how the top 5 parties in the 5 states stand.
So far winners have been declared by the EC in the following states
Tamil Nadu: DMK (1)
Puducherry: AINRC (9), BJP (2), Congress (1), AIDMK (1), DMK (1), Independent (1)
Kerala: Congress (14), CPI-M (7), IUML (2), CPI (2), Kerala Congress (2),
Assam: BJP (3), BPF (1)
Trinamool Congress deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, Sagarika Ghose, on Monday alleged a delay in vote counting in West Bengal, which went to polls in two phases last month.
As counting trends put the BJP ahead of the Trinamool in Bengal, Ghose, in a post on X, claimed that trends for around 100 seats were not yet uploaded by the Election Commission on its website.
"Trends for 100 seats have still not been uploaded by the ECI. Why this delay in counting? Why is counting so slow? Why only one or two rounds counted until now?" Ghose asked in the post.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsTrends for 100 seats have still not been uploaded by @ECISVEEP . WHY THIS DELAY IN COUNTING? Why is counting so SLOW? Why only one or two rounds counted until now ? @AITCofficial workers are full of spirit and will not move until EVERY VOTE is counted. Joy Bangla ! pic.twitter.com/ABZQJwklpE
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) May 4, 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters in New Delhi on Monday evening as early trends show strong gains for the party in West Bengal and Assam.
"Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji will visit BJP HQ, New Delhi today at 6 PM," BJP chief spokesperson Anil Baluni said in a post on X.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsHon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji will visit BJP HQ, New Delhi today at 6 PM.@narendramodi @BJP4India
— Anil Baluni (@anil_baluni) May 4, 2026
As the counting progressed in the afternoon, sporadic incidents of clashes and arguments were reported from various parts of Bengal. Visuals of the latest unrest showed a clash erupting between BJP and TMC workers in Cooch Behar's Dinhata. Central forces personnel had to resort to lathi-charge to disperse the fighting groups.
Ajay Ray (BJP) and Udayan Guha (TMC) are the candidates in Dinhata. Ray is leading at present by a margin of over 10,000 votes.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js#watch | West Bengal | Clash erupts between BJP and TMC workers in Cooch Behar's Dinhata, Central Forces personnel resort to lathi-charge pic.twitter.com/1UyxSq7KEN
— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2026
Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal CM and TMC chief, maintained a strong lead over BJP challenger Suvendu Adhikari by 15,494 votes in the high-profile Bhabanipur constituency in south Kolkata, after initial fluctuations in early rounds of counting.
According to Election Commission data, Banerjee secured 35,522 votes against Adhikari's 20,028 at the end of the eighth round of counting.
TVK candidate from Kavundampalayam, Kanimozhi Santhosh, on Monday expressed confidence in a decisive victory for the party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, citing a "strong emotional wave" in favour of its chief, Vijay.
Speaking to PTI Videos on the trends, Santhosh said the day was special as it reflected the deep affection people in the state have for 'Thalapathy' (Vijay).
"Yeah, it's a massive moment. I can see that people are very emotionally connected to 'Thalapathy'. By this evening, it will be a big moment for him," she added.
She asserted that even before the first half of the day had concluded, the trends indicated a clear path to victory for the TVK.
Mamata Banerjee has released a video titled "urgent message" as BJP leads in over 100 seats in West Bengal.
With folded hands, she has appealed "to all TMC nominees not to leave counting centres".
জরুরি বার্তা pic.twitter.com/Uc82oihwEL
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 4, 2026</blockquot
With the Bharatiya Janata Party looking on course to form the next government, its party workers are making themselves heard on the streets.
BJP workers are raising slogans of 'Jai Shree Ram' outside the residence of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata.
#watch | West Bengal Elections 2026 | BJP workers raise slogans of 'Jai Shree Ram' outside the residence of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata. pic.twitter.com/mkJmm12dVm
— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2026
Stats from the ECI at 12:30 PM. ECI typically releases figures slower than news channels. It is not in real time as each record is verified and signed by the returning officers and then the website is updated. News channels, on the other hand, collate data from various counting centres and send to the newsroom directly.
The TMC has alleged that the ECI is not releasing the vote counting trends for all 293 seats in Bengal. "More than 70+ seats trends have been intentionally not shown by EC. Please IMMEDIATELY release the data for all 293 seats," TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose posted on X.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsIMPORTANT ON BENGAL. WHY IS @ECISVEEP NOT RELEASING TRENDS FOR ALL 293 Bengal seats? More than 70+ seats trends have been intentionally NOT SHOWN by EC. Please IMMEDIATELY release the data for all 293 seats.
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) May 4, 2026
After 5 round of EVM vote counting, Mamata Banerjee has a big lead in Bhabanipur.
Mamata Banerjee: 25,942
Suvendu Adhikari: 9,236
Here's how the results stand at 12 noon:
Bengal
BJP is leading in 198 seats
TMC leading in 92
Left is leading in 2
Tamil Nadu
TVK leads in 109 seats
AIDMK in 72
DMK in 52
Keralam
UDF is leading in 83 seats
LDF in 42
BJP in 2
Others in 13
Assam
BJP is leading in 98 seats
Congress in 25 seats
AIUDF in 2
Puducherry
NRC+ is leading in 15 seats
Congress+ in 11
Others in 3 seats
Source: NDTV
Jammu & Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah calls the West Bengal & Tamil Nadu results "political earthquakes". "The aftershocks of these results will be felt far & wide for a long time, probably all the way up to 2029."
Ratna Debnath, the mother of the RG Kar murder victim, is on a winning trail in Panihati after the 1st round of counting, as per the ECI's latest data. She is a BJP candidate.
On the counting of votes, State Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal says, "We have tried to conduct a free and fair election and that the law and order is maintained. We have tried to ensure that as many people come out and cast their votes... We were so confident that we even told the Election Commission to conduct the elections in a single phase as we were extremely ready... In the near future, elections will be held in a single phase. Any recounting of votes will be considered only if it comes under the conditions for recounting. The ROs are very well aware of it."
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsVIDEO | West Bengal Election Results: State CEO Manoj Agarwal says, “We made enough efforts for this election to be free and fair and for law and order to be in place.”#results2026withpti#assemblyelectionresults2026#westbengalpollresults2026 pic.twitter.com/afKtMVujcQ
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 4, 2026
BJP workers are distributing sweets outside the counting centre in Bhabanipur constituency as the party crossed the majority mark in the state. In the constituency, CM Mamata Banerjee is leading over BJP's Suvendu Adhikari by a slim margin, after 3/20 rounds of counting.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js#watch | West Bengal Elections 2026 | Kolkata: BJP workers distribute sweets outside the counting centre in Bhabanipur assembly constituency as BJP crosses the majority mark in the state.
— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2026
In the constituency, CM Mamata Banerjee is leading over BJP's Suvendu Adhikari by a… pic.twitter.com/XE75HGOSxC
BJP candidate from Nandigram and Bhabanipur Assembly constituencies, Suvendu Adhikari, says, "The BJP will form the government with more than 180 seats."
Tamil Nadu Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin is trailing in the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni seat. Selvam D of the newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is leading from the seat with a margin of more than 1,000 votes, reports news agency ANI. DMK is staring at a defeat, while Vijay's TVK is inching towards full majority.
BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said, "Judging by the trends emerging, one thing has become absolutely clear: under the leadership of our PM Modi, and through his commitment to good governance, the vision of a 'Developed India' (Viksit Bharat), a dream we are bound to realise, commands the unwavering faith of the entire nation. It would not be incorrect to assert this. Under the leadership of PM Modi, India is witnessing a new paradigm of politics, one characterised by 'pro-incumbency.' It is a politics where a government's report card is presented to the public, and where a clear roadmap for the future is laid out..."
Suvendu Adhikari says: "I will take lead in certain booths she will lead but later I will lead. In Kolkata the educated will vote for BJP. Certain seats are unexpected for BJP but a very good results. In 77 ward I will trail but after that, I will lead. It is a clear mandate. This is the win of the people of West Bengal."
The state has been overwhelming dominated by the two Dravidian parties, DMK and AIADMK. Only rarely has it been governed by others. Before Dravidian dominance, Congress ruled the state (then called Madras State) between 1947 and 1967.
Thereafter, only once has TN come under Congress rule. In 1988-1989, there was a brief period of Congress rule under Janaki Ramachandran (technically the AIADMK faction), followed by President’s Rule.
There have also been short periods of President’s Rule, not party governance.
So practically, for over 50 years, Tamil Nadu politics has been a two-party system.
At 10:10 AM, here's how the ECI stats stand in the vote counting for the Assembly Election results.
In Kerala, Congress-led UDF has crossed the majority mark, according to the latest Election Commission trends, reports news agency ANI. When asked about factors behind LDF's poor performance, state Congress president Sunny Joseph says, "Anti-people policies." "That we will decide later," he says when asked about a CM face.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js#watch | Keralam Elections 2026 | Congress-led UDF has crossed the majority mark, according to the latest Election Commission trends.
— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2026
When asked about factors behind LDF's poor performance, State Congress president Sunny Joseph says, "Anti-people policies."
"That we will decide… pic.twitter.com/pEVBHSjLfK
How are prominent Bengal leaders are faring as counting progresses? Here's how they are placed
Berhampore - Congress's Adhir Ranjan Choudhury is trailing
Rejinagar - AJUP's Humayun Kabir leading
Beleghata - TMC's Kunal Ghosh trailing
Bhabanipur - CM Mamata Banerjee leading
West Bengal LoP and BJP candidate from Nandigram and Bhabanipur, Suvendu Adhikari has said there has been a Hindu consolidation. He further said Muslims have not voted for TMC this time as earlier. "Some votes have gone to the pro-Muslim party. BJP has also got some in small amounts. I was not expecting such a good performance in the Muslim booth in Nandigram... The guarantee given by PM Modi to build Bengal under his leadership has been in his favour. There is no need to be so hasty. I will tell you after 11:00 AM..."
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js#watch | Kolkata: On the early trends, West Bengal LoP and BJP candidate from Nandigram and Bhabanipur, Suvendu Adhikari, says, "This time there's a Hindu consolidation, and the way Muslims vote for TMC, they have not done that this time. Some votes have gone to the pro-Muslim… pic.twitter.com/i9DA3Lpq8B
— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2026
The BJP is leading in 159 seats, while the TMC is leading in 117 seats at 9:37 am. In Tamil Nadu, Vijay's TVK is leading in 67 seats, while CM Stalin's DMK is leading in 61 seats. ADMK is trailing with leads in 58 seats, as per the trends put out by NDTV.
Here's how the ECI's official tally stands at 9:25 AM:
State Assembly by-elections results: BJP's Harshadbhai Govindbhai Parmar is leading in Unreth (Gujarat) Congress' Umesh Hullappa Meti leading in Bagalkot (Karnataka) BJP's Srinivas Daskariyappa leading in Davangere South (Karnataka) Deputy CM and BJP candidate Sunetra Pawar leading in Baramati (Maharashtra) BJP's Akshay Shivajirao Kardile leading in Rahuri (Maharashtra) BJP's Jahar Chakraborti leading in Dharamnagar (Tripura).
West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya says, "The dreams of the BJP workers are about to come true. This is the worker of the entire country... The dream of forming a government from Gangotri to Ganga Sagar is going to be fulfilled today. The government will be formed and will remain in place... Didi is sure to take a rest. It will happen..." BJP is currently leading in 150 seats, while the TMC is leading in 104 seats.
#watch | Kolkata: On Counting of votes, West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya says, "The dreams of the BJP workers are about to come true. This is the worker of the entire country... The dream of forming a government from Gangotri to Ganga Sagar is going to be fulfilled… pic.twitter.com/NAOT8Mb7ZTImportant clarification for Bengal watchers: one seat has been left out of today's count. The whole assembly constituency of Falta has been scheduled for a repoll on May 21, due to alleged breaching of election procedures and EVM tampering, with counting and result on May 24. Additionally, 15 booths in Magrahat Paschim and Diamond Harbour saw repolling on May 2. Results for the remaining 293 seats are being declared today.
The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) is leading in the following seats:
Jangipur
Krishnanagar North (Krishnanagar Uttar)
Noapara
Jagatdal
Bhatpara
Jorasanko
Shyampukur
Jhargram
Binpur
Balarampur
Rampurhat
Labpur
Gangarampur
Balurghat
Murshidabad
Gaighata
Barasat
Basanti
Sonarpur South (Sonarpur Dakshin)
Mamata Banerjee is trailing in her bastion, Babanipur, while BJP's Suvendu Adhikari leads in Bhabanipur very early trends show. Overall, the BJP is leading in 108 seats, while the TMC is leading in 88 in the early trends, as per NDTV.
BJP now has leads in West Bengal and Assam; In Kerala, UDF is leading in 20 seats while the LDF in 8 seats; CM Stalin's DMK is ahead in Tamil Nadu with 41 seats, while the ADMK is ahead on 24 seats, as per NDTV.
Preliminary trends indicate advantage for NDA, led by CM Rangaswamy AINRC in Union Territory of Puducherry.
CM MK Stalin's DMK has surged ahead of others with 22 seats in very early leads. ADMK leads in 9 seats, TVK in 2
TMC and BJP locked in neck and neck fight in Bengal. TMC - 12, BJP - 12 in very early leads, as per data put out by NDTV.
Very early lead shows DMK leading in 4 seats, ADMK in 2 and TVK in 1. In Kerala, UDF is leading in 9 seats, LDF in 4. In Bengal, TMC is leafding in 5, BJP in 4. Assam has BJP leading in, 10, AIUDF in 1
Counting is now underway. EVMs are being opened simultaneously at 77 counting centres across West Bengal and at designated centres in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry. All five regions are part of a single-day count on May 4. Early postal ballot trends are typically the first to emerge. Stay with us.
Congress-led UDF opposition chief VD Satheesan has been campaigning on governance fatigue and anti-incumbency. Hot seats include Palakkad, where a cash-for-vote controversy embroiled the BJP, and UDF candidate Ramesh Pisharody is tipped for a comfortable win according to exit polls. The Left, led by CM Pinarayi Vijayan, is hoping to secure a third term.
Exit poll predictions
Multiple exit polls point to a UDF comeback. The Manorama News-C Voter survey projected the UDF would win 82-94 seats, which is more than double their dismal 41 seats in 2021. The LDF is projected to fall to 44-56 seats. In north Kerala's key district of Malappuram, UDF is projected to virtually sweep, while the LDF clings to advantage in Palakkad and Thrissur. Axis My India projects UDF at 78-90 and Peoples Pulse at 75-85. The NDA is expected to win a token 0-3 seats.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma himself contested the Jalukbari seat, where he won by a margin of over a lakh votes in 2021. His challenger this cycle is Congress's Bidisha Neog. Dalgaon recorded the highest turnout in the state at 94.57%, while Amri registered the lowest at 70.40%. Watch out for the Jorhat constituency results as well. This is the seat Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi is contesting.
Exit poll predictions
The exit polls are broadly positive for the BJP. Matrize predicted the BJP-led alliance would secure 85-95 seats in the 126-seat House, with Congress projected at 25-32 seats. Axis My India went further, projecting an NDA sweep of 88-100 seats. On vote share, BJP was projected at 45.5% against Congress's 39.8%. A third consecutive term for Himanta looks likely on paper - but counting will have the final word.
Most exit polls placed the BJP ahead of the ruling TMC in West Bengal, where voter turnout hit a record high across both phases of polling. The Left remained largely on the margins in most projections, with estimates mostly restricting it to low single digits.
In a departure from the broader trend, Peoples Pulse forecast a TMC victory, predicting an outright majority for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s party with 177-187 seats. It projected the BJP at 95-110 seats, the Left Front at 0-1, and the Congress at 1-3.
Matrize projected the BJP to secure 146-161 seats, while giving the TMC 125-140. Poll Diary also predicted a BJP win, estimating 142-171 seats for the party and 95-110 for the TMC. P-Marq placed the BJP in the 150-175 range, compared to the TMC’s 118-138. Chanakya Strategies forecast 150-160 seats for the BJP and 130-140 for the TMC.
CM Mamata Banerjee is seeking re-election from Bhabanipur, her home turf. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who narrowly defeated Banerjee in 2021, is the face of the saffron challenge this time. Both Modi and Shah held multiple rallies in the state in the final stretch.Exit poll predictions
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (AITC) is defending a mammoth 2021 haul of 215 out of 294 seats. The BJP, backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, is pushing hard for its first-ever state government in Bengal. Anti-incumbency after 15 years of TMC rule and a controversy over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls (which deleted roughly 9 million names from voter lists) have all defined this elections.
The official source for all verified results is the Election Commission of India portal: results.eci.gov.in. The Voter Helpline app is also streaming live updates. Counting takes place simultaneously across all constituencies, and results are declared progressively through the day. Bookmark the ECI and The Indian Express websites — these are your best sources to trust for the final seat tallies.
Heavy security deployed outside the strong room at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata as the counting of votes for 293 Assembly constituencies of West Bengal will start at 8 am. Returning Officers and party agents are in the queue outside the strong room centre.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js#watch | West Bengal Elections 2026 | Heavy security deployed outside the strong room at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata as the counting of votes for 293 Assembly constituencies of West Bengal will start at 8 am.
— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2026
Returning Officers and party agents are in the queue outside the… pic.twitter.com/ZWT6hDRD7e
The seat everyone is watching first: Bhabanipur. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is defending her turf here. Bhabanipur is considered a barometer of urban Kolkata sentiment. It is being contested by two heavyweights — CM Mamata Banerjee and Leader of Opposition and her former party colleague BJP's Suvendu Adhikari. A Mamata win here — and by what margin — will set the psychological tone for the rest of the results in Bengal.
Before today's results come in, here's the benchmark TMC must beat — or that BJP must crack. In the 2021 West Bengal election, TMC won 215 seats, with BJP as runner-up at 77 seats. TMC's vote share was 47.93% against BJP's 38.1%. The Left-Congress alliance won zero seats. That's the mountain BJP is trying to climb today.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsPTI INFOGRAPHICS | West Bengal’s changing political map over the years
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 30, 2026
As the second phase of polling concludes in West Bengal on April 29, attention turns to the counting day on May 4. The state has witnessed significant shifts in its political landscape over the past few… pic.twitter.com/kengmNwItv
West Bengal is a 294-seat assembly; the votes in 293 of these are being counted. The Falta constituency will undergo repolling over allegations of irregularities. The majority mark is 148. The election recorded a historic voter turnout of 92.47%, the highest ever in the state, surpassing the 2011 election. West Bengal also had 77 counting centres deployed across the state. Early trends from high-turnout seats are being watched most closely.
Ahead of counting of votes for Keralam Elections 2026, BJP candidate from Kazahakootam, V Muraleedharan says, "In the elections to the Kerala Assembly, BJP presented before the people the need for a change and presenting the 12 years of PM Narendra Modi's Govt, the politics of performance at the national level and compared to the 10 years of Left Govt now and the earlier years the alternate terms that both Govts had, and the situation of Kerala. So, I am sure that people will understand the situation and take a positive view of the need for a Kerala that is developed along with rest of the country." He also says, "...I am hopeful that there will be a positive approach taken by the people and a verdict in favour of the NDA-BJP."
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js#watch | Thiruvananthapuram: Ahead of counting of votes for Keralam Elections 2026, BJP candidate from Kazahakootam, V Muraleedharan says, "In the elections to the Kerala Assembly, BJP presented before the people the need for a change and presenting the 12 years of PM Narendra… pic.twitter.com/7hskNLXaCI
— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2026
An argument has broken out between the counting agents of TMC and BJP outside the counter centre at Sakhawat Memorial School in Bhabanipur assembly constituency. The constituency is CM Mamata Banerjee's bastion. She is facing Bengal LoP and her former party colleague Suvendu Adhikari. Counting of votes for 293 Assembly constituencies of the state will begin at 8 AM today.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js#watch | Kolkata, West Bengal: A verbal argument broke out between the counting agents of TMC and BJP outside the counter centre at Sakhawat Memorial School in Bhabanipur assembly constituency.
— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2026
Counting of votes for 293 Assembly constituencies of the state will begin at 8 AM… pic.twitter.com/cvJOrqHC6i
As the final preparations wrap up across all five states, security is at maximum. There are 77 counting centres across West Bengal. The Election Commission deployed over 350,000 security personnel statewide during polling, including the National Investigation Agency for the first time in a state election, amid reports of localised violence in Howrah and Hooghly districts. In addition to the new QR-code access system at all centres, the ECI has mandated CCTV coverage of the counting halls and videography of all EVM opening processes.
These state elections are a national political report card. A BJP victory in West Bengal, its last major holdout in eastern India, would fundamentally alter the party's seat count and influence heading into pre-2029 Lok Sabha election. An LDF defeat in Kerala would confirm that even the most welfare-driven governments face fatigue limits. A DMK win in Tamil Nadu would cement the South as a BJP-resistant bloc. In Tamil Nadu, women significantly outnumbered men among voters — 2.53 crore women cast votes against 2.35 crore men — a trend worth watching when gender-targeted welfare schemes are evaluated.
Counting in Puducherry's 30 constituencies often concludes faster than the larger states — making it likely the first to produce a clear winner today. The election recorded a voter turnout of 89.87%, the highest ever for an assembly election in the union territory. Incumbent CM N. Rangasamy of AINRC is seeking a second consecutive term — rare in Puducherry. All exit polls uniformly projected a win for the NDA in Puducherry. If the NDA sweeps here early in the morning, it sets an early positive tone for BJP's day nationally.
This was the first election in Assam after the 2023 delimitation. The mood in the BJP camp this morning is characterised by confidence. The main contest is between the BJP and Congress, with Assam recording a turnout of 85.21% — surpassing the previous figure of 82.04% in 2021. The 2021 election marked the first time a non-INC alliance won consecutive terms in Assam. A BJP win today would be a third consecutive term — something no non-Congress party has achieved in the state. Himanta Biswa Sarma's Jalukbari seat will be among the first to show the trends.
While Bengal dominates the conversation, Tamil Nadu has its own blockbuster subplot. Actor-turned-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) contested its first Tamil Nadu election, with Vijay contesting from two constituencies — Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East. Exit polls from the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026 indicate that the ruling DMK-led alliance remains ahead in most projections, while nearly all major pollsters identified TVK as a decisive new factor influencing vote shares across constituencies. If Vijay wins even one of his two personal seats, it counts as a symbolic debut. If TVK wins double digits, it would possibly reshape Tamil Nadu politics for a generation.
Heavy security arrangements have been put in place at the counting centre set up at Loyola College in Chennai, where votes for several key Assembly constituencies will be counted today.
Political party workers are already arriving at counting centres across Kerala. The LDF has governed the state for 10 consecutive years — winning in 2016 and again in 2021 in a historic back-to-back result. Exit polls suggest that Vijayan could lose power to the Congress-led UDF, which managed only 41 seats in 2021 against LDF's 99. Every major pollster has given the UDF the edge. Today's Chanakya projects a closer contest — UDF at 69 ± 9 seats and LDF at 64 ± 9 seats with a 38% vote share. The divergence between the most and least optimistic projections makes Kerala the state most likely to surprise.
Counting always begins with postal ballots and they often set a 'misleading' early tone. These are votes cast by defence personnel, police on election duty, absentee voters above 85, and people with disabilities. They are typically very few in number relative to the EVM votes and can swing in unexpected directions, especially in states like Assam and Bengal where security forces are heavily deployed. Don't read too much into the first 30 minutes of trends — the real picture only forms once EVM counting picks up pace, usually after 9:00 AM.
Before the first EVM opens, here is the full weight of today's Bengal verdict. The campaign was shaped by disputes over electoral rolls and citizenship, border security and undocumented migration, anti-incumbency after 15 years of Mamata Banerjee's TMC rule, the schoolteacher recruitment scam, and ongoing investigations by central agencies — which formed a major opposition line of attack on the TMC government's record in administration. The TMC, by contrast, leaned on welfare delivery, especially Lakshmir Bhandar, the monthly cash transfer scheme for women, as its electoral shield. Both narratives will face their moment of truth today
West Bengal recorded a historic voter turnout of 92.47%, the highest ever in the state, surpassing the 2011 election stats. High turnout in Bengal has historically benefited the party with the stronger ground-level mobilisation, which has traditionally been TMC. But BJP's campaign was its most organised yet.
Quick refresher for first-time readers joining us. The majority marks today:
Note: West Bengal's Falta constituency result will come on May 24 due to a court-ordered repoll. Today's effective Bengal count covers 293 seats.
The week preceding the counting in Bengal wasn't quiet. TMC leaders Dr Shashi Panja and Kunal Ghosh staged a dharna outside Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata, alleging suspicious movement inside a strongroom full of EVMs. Mamata Banerjee personally rushed to a counting centre and stayed for about four hours. The BJP, meanwhile, levelled its own allegations, claiming that buttons of EVMs were covered with black tape, adhesive substances, ink and even perfume during Phase 2, allegedly to prevent voters from casting votes for the lotus symbol. West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer asserted there was no scope for wrongdoing at counting centres.
One of the biggest pre-count stories dropped on Saturday. The Supreme Court dismissed a plea by the Trinamool Congress challenging the ECI's decision to appoint only Central government employees as counting supervisors for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. A special bench convened on Saturday declined to pass any additional directions, effectively clearing the decks for the poll panel to proceed. The court recorded the ECI's assurance that its own circular — which provides for a mix of Central and State government personnel — would be followed in letter and spirit. TMC's legal route is now closed. The verdict will be settled on the counting floor.
Here's roughly how the day will unfold. Counting opens at 8 AM with postal ballots — these include votes from defence personnel, out-of-state voters, and essential services workers. EVMs open in rounds from approximately 8:30 AM onwards. Vote counting begins with postal ballots, followed by EVM votes in multiple rounds. Results are updated after each round and officially declared by Returning Officers. First trends are typically visible within 60–90 minutes of EVM counting beginning. Clear leads usually emerge by mid-morning. The final results are expected by Monday evening if counting proceeds as scheduled.
This year's count comes with a security upgrade. The Election Commission of India has introduced a QR code-based Photo Identity Card module on ECINET, effective from May 4, 2026 — the counting day for Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry. Under the new framework, QR code-enabled Photo Identity Cards will be issued to all authorised personnel entering counting centres and halls, including Returning Officers, counting staff, candidates, election agents and counting agents. A three-tier security protocol is in place at every centre, with QR scanning as the final layer before the counting hall itself. The system will be used for all future elections as well.
Three hours to go. Here's where to watch the election results live today. The official Election Commission of India website at results.eci.gov.in is the primary portal for live constituency-wise updates. The Indian Express will also keep you updated with real-time news and analyses on the results. News channels will carry live TV coverage, and most networks will stream their 'Election Specials' on YouTube for free. The Voter Helpline app (available on Android and iOS) is another reliable ECI-linked source. Avoid unverified social media posts — leads can reverse, and misinformation spreads fast on counting day.
Track the live updates for the assembly election results 2026. It's the biggest political day of the year, and the clock is ticking. Counting begins at 8 AM simultaneously across five states and one union territory — West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry. 293 seats in Bengal. 234 in Tamil Nadu. 140 in Kerala. 126 in Assam. 30 in Puducherry. 824 seats in all. The results will start rolling in through the morning. Stay with us — we'll be here every step of the way.
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