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Election results 2026: ‘Agree with Mamata Banerjee, 100+ seats stolen in Bengal,’ says Rahul Gandhi

Election results 2026: Vijay-starrer super-hit in Tamil Nadu; BJP wrests Bengal from TMC and retains power in Assam; UDF topples LDF in Kerala.

ThePrint Team
Representational | File photo of Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee | ANI
Representational | File photo of Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee | ANI
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BJP secures a landslide win over Mamata Banerjee’s TMC in West Bengal, Vijay’s TVK breaks DMK-AIADMK binary in Tamil Nadu, UDF topples LDF reign in Kerala, and NDA retains power in Assam and Puducherry. 

Voting in four states and one Union Territory was held between 9 and 29 April.

As many as 15.93 crore people voted across the four states and one UT, with West Bengal witnessing a record voter turnout of 92.47 percent, the highest since Independence.

Here’s a roundup of how things unfolded on counting day.

Election Results 2026 | AS IT HAPPENED

11 pm: Rahul, Akhilesh echo Mamata’s allegations

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav took to X to echo Mamata Banerjee’s allegations of impropriety in the counting process in West Bengal.

“We agree with Mamata ji. More than 100 seats were stolen in Bengal,” Rahul said in his post, adding that the Congress has “seen this playbook before” in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Hours earlier, Akhilesh while sharing a video of Mamata outside a counting centre in Bhabanipur wrote on X: “In the name of the electoral system, the misuse of central forces that has happened today in Bengal during the counting of votes is exactly the kind of rigging that was carried out in most places during the 2022 UP Assembly elections…”

9.55 pm: Muslim vote, X factor & limitations of regional politics: Takeaways from Bengal, TN, Kerala elections

In a special edition of National Interest, ThePrint Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta writes, “Both Didi and Stalin built their pitch against Delhi, Hindi domination, and an unfair Centre. Neither appreciated that their young people were impatient…”

On TVK’s win, he writes,”Vijay’s rise isn’t unprecedented. Both Sri Lanka and Nepal, the two genuine democracies across our borders, had already seen rank outsiders sweeping aside established parties…”

Read the column here.

9.45 pm: Mamata loses Bhabanipur

EC declares BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari as the winner in Bhabanipur. TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee has lost by a massive gap of 15,000 votes.

Suvendu has also won the Nandigram seat.

8.30 pm: ‘EC has abandoned all pretense of neutrality’: TMC

TMC alleges bias on ECI’s part. In a post on X, the party wrote, “@ECISVEEP has abandoned even the faintest pretense of neutrality.”

Alleging that the election body dragged out and delayed the counting process, the party also claimed that ECI is “refusing” to issue certificates where the “victories are clear”.

8.15 pm: Mamata alleges she was hit at counting centre

Exiting the Bhabanipur counting centre, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee says, “From 3 pm onwards, they have been beating us up. I was hit. CCTV was switched off. None of our agents was allowed inside (the counting centre).”

After 16 out of 20 rounds of counting, she is currently trailing behind Suvendu Adhikari by 554 votes.

7.50 pm: ‘Congress, DMK tried to stop Naari Shakti wave’

“Today, mothers and sisters have punished Congress and DMK. SP will have to suffer punishment at the hands of women in UP elections…,” says Modi.

7.45 pm: ‘Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high’

Evoking Rabindranath Tagore, Modi says the BJP will strive for a state which was dreamt of by him.
“Polling in Bengal would make headlines for killings, chaos, violence, but this time polling was peaceful… In this festival of democracy, you heard not a gun going off, but the noise of people’s mandate.”

 

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7.35 pm: ‘Bengal has become fearless…’

“In every election, BJP is creating new records of voter ashirvaad…
Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee’s soul would be at peace today. In 1951, by establishing Jan Sangh, he had given the message…live for the nation, die for the nation… Mukherjee fought to keep Bengal part of India, the prosperous Bengal he dreamt of, that dream has been waiting to come true for many decades now.
Today, voters have given us, BJP workers, the chance to fulfill that dream. Bengal has become fearless, replenished with the dream of development”: PM Modi

7.30 pm: ‘From Gangotri to Gangasagar…’

“On 14 November, I stood here (at BJP HQ), and said that the Ganga flows from Bihar all the way to Bengal (Bay of Bengal). With West Bengal win, from Gangotri to Gangasagar, the lotus has bloomed…
…Maa Ganga has always blessed us. Brahmaputra has also blessed us… Maa Kamakhya, too. Assam has trusted us for the third term… Hattrick”: PM Modi at BJP HQ

 

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7.25 pm: ‘Greatest portrait of India’s democracy’

People of five states have shown the world why India is mother of democracy. Democracy is not just a tool for us, its legacy and heritage flow in our blood. Today, India’s constitution has won as well.
In West Bengal, 93% voter turnout is historic, In Assam, TN, Puducherry and Kerala, too, voter turnout reached new levels.
Women have participated in huge numbers, which the greatest portrait of India’s democracy.
Many salutations to all officers associated with polling. Your contribution will alsways be remembered.

7.20 pm: ‘This is a historic day’

“It’s a historic day, years of devotion have borne fruit… As a BJP worker, I am part of every party worker’s happiness. This day is special in many ways…. Today is a declaration of this country’s bright future, a day of confidence, confidence in democracy, confidence in politics of performance…. I bow my head to the people of all the states. All party workers have helped the lotus bloom… you have written history today”: PM Modi at BJP HQ

7.05 pm: BJP leaders gather to celebrate at party HQ

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ministers Amit Shah and JP Nadda, BJP chief Nitin Nabin, and others are present at party head office in New Delhi.

6.55 pm: Bengal Chief Secretary issues direction to officials to ensure no paper or file is removed

In an official release, Dushyant Nariala, Chief Secretary to govt of West Bengal, directs all department secretaries and heads of offices to ensure that “no important paper or a file” is removed or damaged.

The notice also prohibits any “unauthorised scanning/copying” of any documents. It adds, “The heads of department and departmental secretaries shall personally ensure that this is followed in letter and spirit.”

6.50 pm: PM also congratulates UDF

Modi further extends congratulations to Congress-led UDF for its victory in Kerala assembly elections. He adds, “I express my gratitude to everyone who voted for BJP-NDA in Kerala. We will continue to raise critical issues for Kerala’s progress, and we will work hard to realise the vision of a developed Kerala.”

6.45 pm: Modi congratulates Vijay

Modi congratulates Vijay & TVK on the party’s “impressive performance”.

Commenting on NDA’s electoral performance in Tamil Nadu, the PM added, “The Centre will leave no stone unturned in furthering the progress of Tamil Nadu and the well-being of their people.”

6.40 pm: ‘Despite polarised situation, the Left marginally improved its performance’: CPI(M) concedes defeat

The CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued an official statement after a poor showing in Kerala.

Thanking the people and cadres who had faith in the party and voted for it, the statement posted on the party’s social media accounts says that the party will “introspect” on the reasons that led to its defeat in the state.

The Polit bureau also commented on BJP’s performance in West Bengal and Assam, calling the win a “matter of deep concern” for all secular, progressive and democratic forces. Other than a strong anti-incumbency against TMC, the bureau credited the win to BJP’s “communal, divisive and vitriolic hate campaign”. It also blamed the misuse of central agencies & the SIR exercise.

6.20 pm: Modi hails BJP wins in Bengal, Assam & Puducherry

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, congratulating BJP workers, said that the party’s “politics of good governance” has prevailed for the Bengal voters. “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,” he wrote on X.

Thanking the people of Assam, he posted, “I applaud all BJP-NDA Karyakartas for their round-the-clock efforts among the people of Assam. It is commendable how our Party and Alliance have grown over the last decade. Their efforts have ensured our positive agenda has struck a chord with the people.”

The PM also expressed gratitude to the people of Puducherry and NDA karyakartas following AINRC’s lead in the union territory.

6.15 pm: ‘Moment of pride for a BJP worker like me’: Amit Shah

As the verdict becomes clearer in West Bengal, BJP looks set for a landslide victory. The party has won in 34 seats, and is leading in 170 others. The Home Minister hailed the victory as “trust in Modiji”.

He added, “For every BJP worker like me, this is a moment of pride that from the source of Mother Ganga in Gangotri to Gangasagar, today the BJP’s saffron flag is proudly waving everywhere.”

6.10 pm: ‘My fight doesn’t end here’

“My fight does not end here,” says Ratna Debnath, West Bengal’s BJP candidate leading by 20,463 votes in Panihati. Ratna fought the election on BJP’s ticket following her daughter’s death after she was brutally raped in RG Kar Hospital.

6.05 pm: Abhishek Banerjee says counting has been ‘unusually slow’ 

In a press conference, TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee urges all Trinamool counting agents to stay put and not leave the centres. Invoking suspicion about the “slow” counting process, Banerjee added that the results are not being disclosed to media, and votes are being “recounted” in seats where his party has “secured victory”.

He asserted that the people’s mandate, whatever it may be, must be “accepted by everyone in a civilised society”.

5.55 pm: ‘Punjab next’?

“West Bengal check, Punjab next, AAP pack your bags,” says Jaiveer Shergill, BJP spokesperson and former Congress leader, following party’s sweep through West Bengal.

5.50 pm: Raghav Chadha congratulates ‘BJP family’

Raghav Chadha, among BJP’s newest members, congratulates the party “on the impressive election results, with West Bengal marking a historic & decisive victory that stands out as truly remarkable”.

He writes in a post on X, “The outcomes from Assam and Puducherry further reflect people’s continued faith in development and strong governance.”

5.15 pm: ‘I have kept my promise,’ says Congress’s Satheesan after UDF’s victory in Kerala

Following his victory in Paravur, Congress’s V.D. Satheesan said, “When I assumed office as the Leader of the Opposition, I had promised to bring the UDF back with a brilliant victory in Keralam. I have been able to keep that promise.”

5.05 pm: TMC temporary office vandalised in Kolkata

4.55 pm: ‘DMK thrown out by the people’

TVK leader Adhav Arjuna says that the party’s victory is dedicated to the Karur tragedy.

4.35 pm: BJP set for landmark win in Bengal. What next for Mamata

4.30 pm: Mamata & Suvendu at Bhabanipur counting centre

Mamata Banerjee arrives at the counting centre for the high-profile Bhabanipur assembly constituency, following allegations that a TMC agent had been forced out, PTI reports.

Her rival, BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari is already present at the counting centre.

TMC leaders claim that one of its counting agents had been forced out, leading to Banerjee’s arrival at the venue.

3.50 pm: ‘Sweet revenge’ in Kerala

With Congress set to comfortably win in Kerala, party MP K.C. Venugopal said, “People in the state have taken sweet revenge for the atrocities against UDF workers during the Left government.”

3.40 pm: What’s happening in Tharoor’s Thiruvananthapuram stronghold

The Congress-led UDF is leading in three of the seven assembly constituencies in Shashi Tharoor’s Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency. The party had fielded several high-profile candidates in the district, which includes crucial constituencies witnessing triangular contests.

In Vattiyoorkavu, senior Congress leader K. Muraleedharan is contesting against Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s incumbent MLA V.K. Prasanth and Bharatiya Janata Party’s R. Sreelekha, a former DGP.

In Nemom, Congress leader K.S. Sabarinadhan is fighting against Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar and CPI(M) Minister V. Sivankutty. In Neyyattinkara, Congress Thiruvananthapuram President N. Sakthan, a former minister, is in a face-off with K. Ansalan of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). In Kazhakkootam, T. Sharath Chandra Prasad of the Congress is running against senior BJP leader V. Muraleedharan and CPI(M) leader and Minister Kadakampally Surendran. In Parassala, INC’s Neyyattinkara Sanal is crossing swords with CPI(M)’s C.K. Hareendran and Advocate Gireesh Neyyar from the NDA.

In Thiruvananthapuram, the UDF has fielded Communist Marxist Party (CMP)’s C.P. John against LDF’s actor-candidate Sudheer Karamana and Bharatiya Janata Party’s Karamana Jayan.

In Kovalam, the Congress has fielded incumbent MLA M. Vincent against LDF’s Bhagath Rufus and BJP’s T.N. Suresh.

Out of the seven assembly constituencies, the UDF, back in 2021, won only the Kovalam segment.

Read Aneesa PA’s report.

3.30 pm: What puts Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma in a different league among frontline BJP leaders

As Himanta-powered NDA heads for a landslide victory in Assam, ThePrint Political Editor DK Singh analyses the five big takeaways from the results and what this means for the Assam CM.

3 pm: Clean-sweep for BJP in Bengal?

BJP eyes first-ever victory in West Bengal, with leads in 194 seats. Ruling party TMC is a distant second, leading in 94 constituencies.

2.45 pm: ‘Public have voted for change’: Tharoor

Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor writes on X, “The public have clearly voted for change, an end to ten years of LDF misgovernance and a bold new direction for Kerala.”

Congress-led UDF is currently leading in 99 seats in Kerala.

2.35 pm: Mahua Moitra say EC trying to project BJP victory in Bengal 

TMC MP Mahua Moitra accuses EC of not uploading data of 70 seats and trying to project BJP victory in West Bengal.

2.30 pm: Gaurav Gogoi loses to BJP in Jorhat

Gaurav Gogoi, deputy leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha, lost to Hitendra Nath Goswami of the BJP in Jorhat by a margin of 23,182 votes at the end of 14 rounds of counting. Gogoi secured 46,257 votes as against Goswami’s 69,439.

2.20 pm: Will analyse causes for verdict, says CPI’s D Raja

Speaking to the media in New Delhi, CPI general secretary D. Raja said his party will analyse the “causes for such a verdict given by the people of Tamil Nadu”.

“It is also necessary that all secular, democratic parties will have to do serious introspection and draw lessons that the people cannot be taken for granted. The secular, democratic parties must know how to enter into a seat-sharing arrangement, have a mutual arrangement and carry on with trust. Except for one or two exit polls, all exit polls predicted the victory of DMK,” he added.

On Kerala, he said that the Left was hoping LDF would come back to power in Kerala. “BJP was not allowed to play its disastrous game in Kerala,” he added.

2 pm: How numbers are stacked

1.55 pm: Game-changer TVK

Vijay’s TVK looks set to sweep Tamil Nadu. What it means for the state, AIADMK & DMK. Watch LIVE:

1.50 pm: Comfortable lead for BJP in Assam

In Assam, BJP looks to retain power with leads in 79 seats. Congress is a distant second with leads in 25.

1.30 pm: Stalin trailing in Chennai’s Kolathur behind TVK candidate, Udhayanidhi leads in Chepauk

Tamil Nadu CM Stalin is trailing in Chennai’s Kolathur, and his son and DMK youth wing leader Udhayanidhi Stalin is leading in Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni.

The results in both Chennai seats are being closely watched as a test of DMK’s hold and its grip on urban Tamil Nadu.

The CM was trailing by 7,975 votes behind TVK’s V.S. Babu after 10 out of 22 rounds of counting.

Udhayanidhi was up by a margin of over 1,048 votes against Selvam D. of the TVK after eight out of 17 rounds.

Kolathur has been Stalin’s stronghold for four decades. In the 2021 assembly election, the chief minister won the seat by 48,919 votes, securing 66.5 percent of votes polled against AIADMK. The 2016 margin against the AIADMK was wider still—68,456 votes—underscoring how deeply the constituency is embedded in his organisational base.

Read Shweta Tripathi’s report.

1.25 pm: Tamil Nadu trends snapshot

TVK leads in 110 seats, ahead of AIADMK, which is leading in 56.

Ruling party DMK is still in the third spot with leads in 49 seats.

1.05 pm: BJP leads in 186 seats in West Bengal

BJP workers were seen celebrating and chanting ‘Jai Shree Ram’ outside TMC chief Mamata Banerjee’s Kolkata residence.

 

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1 pm: Mamata’s message to TMC workers

In an “urgent message” posted on X, WB CM Mamata Banerjee says, “I request that no counting agents or candidates leave the voting or counting areas. Wherever the counting is taking place, no one should leave the centre. This appears to be a plan by the BJP to show their votes first in the initial 2–3 rounds and delay showing ours. In many places, counting has even been stopped after 2–3 rounds at around 100 locations. They are using central forces to harass TMC workers, our offices are being vandalised, and you have already seen how votes were cut in the name of SIR.

Even now, there are around 70 to 100 seats where we are leading, but this is not being shown. Only false information is being circulated. The Election Commission, in coordination with the central government, is deciding everything in its own way, and even our police are acting under central influence.

I still say that no one should feel discouraged. After 3–4 rounds, we will begin to win. There is no need to be afraid—we will all fight together like lions.”

12.50 pm: What’s happening in Kerala

UDF leads in 95 seats, ahead of ruling LDF, which is leading in 38. BJP leads in two seats, and others in 10.

12.35 pm: Counting for seven bypolls: The current trends 

Counting is underway following bye-elections in seven assembly constituencies.

Following Ajit Pawar’s death, bye-election in Maharashtra’s Baramati is close to giving a decisive verdict in favour of his wife Sunetra Pawar, who is leading by 61,661 votes. BJP’s Akshay Shivajirao Kardile is also leading by 62,647 votes in Rahuri in the state.

BJP’s Harshadbhai Govindbhai Parmar is leading in Umreth, Gujarat by 30,867 votes with 19 out of 22 rounds completed.

In Karnataka’s Bagalkot, INC’s Umesh Hullappa Meti is leading by 17,205 votes against BJP’s Charantimath Veerabhadrayya. In Davanagere South, Congress’ Samarth Shamanur Mallikarjuna is also leading by 9,952 votes.

BJP’s Jahar Chakraborti is leading in Dharmanagar, Tripura by 18,290 votes.

Reasults have been declared for Koridang seat in Nagaland, with Daochier I. Imchen of the BJP winning by 3,123 votes.

12.25 pm: Puducherry CM Rangasamy wins

Puducherry CM N. Rangasamy has won Thattanchavady seat by a margin of 4,441 votes. The runner-up was E. Vinayagam of Neyam Makkal Kazhagam.

12 pm: BJP begins celebrations in Bengal 

With the BJP leading in 167 seats in West Bengal, party workers have started distributing sweets outside counting centre in Bhabanipur.

Mamata is leading ahead of BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari in this constituency.

11.55 am: In Assam’s Jorhat, Gaurav Gogoi of Congress trails by over 11,000 votes to BJP rival

Congress’s Assam CM face Gaurav Gogoi is trailing against BJP’s Hitendra Nath Goswami in Jorhat. After 7 out of 14 rounds of counting, Gogoi had 21,919 votes, according to early trends. Goswami polled 33,019 votes.

The result carries weight well beyond the constituency. Jorhat is widely seen as a proxy battle between Gogoi and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma—a contest that distils a decade-long rivalry into a single seat.

A three-term MP and state unit chief, Gogoi is contesting an assembly election for the first time. His BJP rival, the sitting MLA, has held Jorhat since 2016 and had served as Speaker of the Assam Assembly from 2017 till 2021.

Goswami is an influential figure in Jorhat, with deep organisational support in a constituency where the Ahoms, an ethnic group that ruled the Brahmaputra Valley for six centuries, form a significant share of the electorate.

Read Esha Mishra’s report.

11.50 am: BJP looks to retain power in Assam 

The BJP-led alliance is heading for a stupendous victory in the Assam assembly elections, leading in 98 constituencies, comfortably crossing the majority mark of 64 in the 126-member assembly, at 11.30 am Monday. The opposition Congress was leading in 25 constituencies while ally Akhil Gogoi’s Raijor Dal was leading in 1 seat.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) looks set to better its 2021 tally of 75 seats with 44.51 percent votes. The BJP on its own was leading in 79 seats while the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF)—two other NDA constituents in the state—were leading in 9 and 10 seats, respectively.

The Assam election was Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s show all the way, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other national leaders playing only a supporting role. A third consecutive victory for the BJP in Assam would firmly establish Sarma as one of the party’s frontline national leaders and key poll strategists.

Sarma had played a key role in the 2016 assembly election, even though he wasn’t the party’s face then. The BJP won the next elections with Sarma as its popular face. The blend of freebies and doles in various forms and visible infrastructure development has given him a cult status in Assam.

While his diatribe against “miyas” or Bengali Muslims earned him severe flak from several quarters, the poll results suggest that the strategy did pay off, polarising the Hindus in a state with 34 percent Muslim population, according to the 2011 Census, and also crystallising public sentiment against illegal immigration.

Read DK Singh’s report.

11.35 am: Mamata gains pace in Bhabanipur

11.30 am: Blockbuster debut for Vijay’s TVK 

Actor-politician Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is leading in 109 seats in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly. In its very first electoral test since its launch in February 2024, the party, which is contesting solo on all 234 seats, has made its presence felt, particularly in urban pockets and among younger voters.

Vijay positioned himself in the Tamil Nadu political scenario as a disruptive new force who has promised change amidst the Dravidian duopoly. The TVK attempted to cut through the traditional vote banks with roadshows, massive youth mobilisation, and direct appeal to families, including urging children to persuade parents to vote for the TVK.

TVK’s campaign focused on anti-corruption, quality education, youth employment, women’s empowerment, and an AI and future-ready Tamil Nadu, while criticising both the DMK and the AIADMK for “dynastic politics and unfulfilled promises”.

If the trends hold, the respectable debut legitimises Vijay’s decision to retire from films and pursue full-time politics. But a respectable showing, even if short of forming the government or emerging as the single largest party, would still make the TVK a credible third force in Tamil Nadu politics.

Read Shweta Tripathi’s report.

11.15 am: A disruptor in Tamil Nadu, a revival in Kerala, signs of power retention in Assam 

Vijay emerges as the game changer in Tamil Nadu. BJP surges ahead in West Bengal in early trends. In Kerala, there are signs of Congress revival. BJP set to retain Assam. Join ThePrint Political Editor D.K. Singh analyse the early trends of Assembly Election results with the team of reporters LIVE:

11.05 am: BJP leads in West Bengal & Assam 

 

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11.00 am: Early trends in Kerala

The United Democratic Front leads in Kerala in 93 seats. Ruling Left Democratic Front ahead in 50 seats.

In terms of party-wise break-up, Congress leads in 61 seats, followed by CPI(M) in 29. IUML leads in 22 seats.

10.55 am: Pinarayi Vijayan trails

Kerala CM Vijayan is trailing in Dharmadam constituency by a gap of 2,812 votes after four out of 15 rounds of counting behind Congress’s V.P. Abdul Rasheed.

10.35 am: Snapshot of top trends

10.30 am: Vijay leads in Perambur

Actor-politician C. Joseph Vijay is leading in Perambur by a gap of 2,990 votes after one out of 22 rounds of counting, ahead of DMK candidate R.D. Shekar.

10.25 am: Stalin, Udhayanidhi trail in early trends

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin trails against V.S. Babu by 1,234 votes in Kolathur after 2 out of 21 rounds of counting.

Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin is also trailing by a small margin of 293 votes after one out of 17 rounds of counting in Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni.

10.15 am: Suvendu trails in Bhabanipur

In Bhabanipur, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee leads against BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari by a gap of 1,996 votes in early trends.

Earlier this morning, Adhikari, who is also contesting in the Nandigram seat, said, “BJP is forming the government.”

10.00 am: Early trends in Jorhat, Assam

Congress’s Gaurav Gogoi trails in Jorhat after two out of 14 rounds of counting. He is pitted against BJP’s Hitendra Nath Goswami, who is leading by a margin of about 1,190 votes in early trends.

9.45 am: What’s brewing in Tamil Nadu?

EC early trends show Vijay’s TVK leading in 33 seats, followed by AIADMK in 33 others. Ruling party DMK trails in third spot with leads in 16 constituencies.

9.30 am: EC early trends show BJP taking lead in Assam

Early trends by the Election Commission of India (ECI) show the BJP leading in 16 seats in Assam and the Congress leading in two. In Tamil Nadu AIADMK is leading in 9 seats, TVK in 5 and DMK in 2. The Congress is leading in 24 seats in Kerala and the Left in 16. In West Bengal the BJP is leading in 3 seats and the TMC in 1 as of 9.30 am.

9.15 am: BJP leading in Gujarat bypoll

Early trends by the EC on assembly by-elections show Harshadbhai Govindbhai Parmar of the BJP ahead in Gujarat’s Umreth; in Karnataka Congress’ Umesh Hullappa Meti is leading in Bagalkot and BJP’s Shrinivasa T. Dasakariyappa in Davanagere South. In Maharashtra, NCP leader Sunetra Pawar has taken the lead in Baramati and BJP’s Akshay Shivajirao Kardile in Rahuri. In Dharmanagar in Tripura, BJP’s Jahar Chakraborty is ahead while counting is still underway in Nagaland’s Koridang as of 9.15 am.

8.50 am: Early trends show tight contest in Bengal, Kerala

Early trends from postal ballots show BJP-led NDA ahead in Assam with leads in 25 seats, while the Congress-led alliance was ahead in seven, according to an ANI report. 

In Kerala, a close LDF-UDF contest is ongoing, with both sides inching past 50 leads each.

In Tamil Nadu, the DMK has taken an early lead over the AIADMK-led alliance, while in West Bengal, the BJP and TMC are locked in a close contest.

These are initial postal ballot trends. Election Commission of India (ECI) is yet to declare any official trends.

8.45 am: Counting begins at Puducherry centre

Puducherry Elections 2026: Counting of votes cast through EVMs begins at a counting centre in Puducherry.

8.30 am: ThePrint reporters bring you a sense of the ground.

Get a sense of what’s going on in the ground as counting begins. Political Editor DK Singh speaks to reporters Neelam Pandey, Esha Mishra, Moushumi Das Gupta from West Bengal, Sharan Poovanna and Aneesa PA in Kerala, Shweta Tripathi and Deepika Amirapu in Tamil Nadu.

Watch it live: 

8.15 am: Bustling Congress HQ in Kerala

The Congress headquarters is Kerala bustling with activity as workers and supporters assembly for a high-stakes verdict. Results being live-streamed at the HQ.

Our correspondent Aneesa PA brings visuals from the ground.

Results being live-streamed at Congress HQ in Kerala | Aneesa PA | ThePrint
Results being live-streamed at Congress HQ in Kerala | Aneesa PA | ThePrint

 

8 am: Puris, sweets being prepared at BJP HQ

BJP prepares for election results in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry. At its headquarters in New Delhi’s Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg, caterers prepare puris and sweets ahead of counting of votes, set to begin shortly.

The BJP is looking to retain Assam and dislodge TMC and DMK in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu respectively.

7.30 am: Mamata alleges ‘load-shedding being done at BJP’s behest’

In a post on X in the early hours of Monday, Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee called on party workers to remain vigilant. “From Hooghly’s Serampore, Nadia’s Krishnanagar, to Burdwan’s Ausgram, and Kolkata’s Kshudiram Anushilan Kendra, such incidents have come to light where load-shedding is being done in phases. CCTV is being turned off; vehicles are moving in and out of strong rooms,” she said, alleging that this was being done at the behest of the BJP.

West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal responded to the allegations, telling news agency ANI: “It’s up to the power department. I’ve made all requests to provide uninterrupted power supply. Generators are available too.”

Read more in this report

7.15 am: 3-tier security at counting centres in West Bengal

Ahead of counting of votes, heavy security was visible outside counting centres in Bhabanipur assembly constituency in West Bengal, which witnessed a fierce contest between CM Mamata Banerjee and BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari. Mamata won from this seat in 2011, 2016, and 2021. TMC is eyeing a fourth consecutive term this time.

West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal told the media Sunday, “All arrangements are in place. There is a three-tier security arrangement; our RO (Returning Officer), ARO (Assistant Returning Officer), counting agents, and counting supervisors are all ready; they have undergone training multiple times. There is no possibility of any disruption anywhere, everything will happen as per the rules.”

He added that 200 companies of CAPF (central armed police forces) have been deployed at counting centres across the state.

7 am: Counting of votes to begin at 8 am

Counting of votes will begin at 8 am, with postal ballots to be counted first followed by votes from Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

Exit polls have predicted a close contest in West Bengal and Kerala, while betting on the DMK’s return to power in Tamil Nadu and BJP-led NDA’s return to power in Assam and Puducherry. Voting was held in Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, Puducherry in a single phase, while West Bengal went to the polls in two phases.

With the Election Commission of India (ECI) overseeing the process of counting of votes, early trends are expected to emerge before noon.

Also Read: Exit polls bet on LDF upset in Kerala, BJP & DMK return in Assam, Tamil Nadu; edge for BJP in Bengal

 

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