Live! Congress hints at supporting Vijay’s TVK
TVK founder Vijay on Tuesday thanked the people of Tamil Nadu for the "historic and transformative mandate" they gave to him in the April 23 Assembly elections
The BJP is set to form its first government in West Bengal after a landslide victory, winning 206 of 294 seats. It is also poised to retain Assam for a third straight term, securing 102 of the 126 seats.
The electoral cycle also saw a dramatic debut in Tamil Nadu, where actor-politician Vijay’s TVK won 108 of 234 seats to emerge as the single-largest party. In Kerala, the Left was wiped out in its last bastion as the Congress-led UDF registered a thumping win.
Also read | Opposition deficit, rather than BJP triumph, is the message
Three incumbent chief ministers – Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), MK Stalin (Tamil Nadu) and Pinarayi Vijayan (Kerala) – are on their way out, with Banerjee also losing the poll battle against BJP's Suvendu Adhikari in the Bhabanipur Assembly seat in Kolkata. Stalin also suffered defeat at the hands of his former protege, TVK’s VS Babu, in the Kolathur Assembly constituency.
Modi hails mandate, slams rivals
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) stellar showing in the West Bengal polls during a grand victory celebration at the party headquarters in New Delhi, both Banerjee and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the mandate was stolen.
Modi hailed the verdict as a mandate for the politics of performance. "Our mantra is nagarik devo bhava (citizens are god). We are dedicated to serving the people. That is why the people have shown their faith in the BJP. They know the BJP is synonymous with good governance, whether it is state government or civic elections as you saw the party winning its highest ever vote share in the recent Gujarat local body polls," he said.
Mamata cries foul over ‘stolen mandate’
Meanwhile, outgoing West Bengal Chief Minister Banerjee alleged that the mandate in more than 100 seats was "looted". "We will bounce back," the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo said while walking out of the counting centre at the Bhabanipur constituency.
Also read | Bengal's Didi shield cracks: How Mamata Banerjee lost the state she dominated
A visibly-distraught Banerjee told reporters that the BJP's victory was "immoral". "They have looted more than 100 seats," she alleged.
Banerjee found an ally in Rahul Gandhi, who too alleged that the mandate in Assam and West Bengal was "stolen".
In Assam, where the election was a hot-headed affair too, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma led the BJP to another straight victory, bagging 102 of the 126 seats, leaving the Congress far behind at 19. State Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi faced his first electoral defeat in Jorhat.
Vijay shatters Dravidian duopoly
If West Bengal was one headline of Elections 2026, the other was superstar Vijay, who defied the odds and the taint of a stampede at his rally in Karur in September 2025, in which 41 people were killed. That episode appeared to be in the past as his party broke the bipolar cycle of Dravidian politics in Tamil Nadu.
Also read | Understanding the Vijay phenomenon in Tamil Nadu politics
Vijay’s TVK secured 108 seats in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, followed by the DMK-led alliance with 73 and the AIADMK-led alliance with 52. He now appears set to join the pantheon of MGR and Jayalalithaa as celluloid stars who made it big in the political firmament. The star of hit films such as Mersal and Leo entered the campaign with a list of lofty promises, including 8 grams of gold, worth about Rs 1.12 lakh, for marriage. Vijay’s manifesto also promised a monthly assistance of Rs 2,500 for women below 60 years of age and six free cooking gas cylinders per family annually.
Priyanka thanks Kerala’s voters
With the Kerala win in her party's pocket, Congress general secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra thanked the people of the southern state for their overwhelming support.
Also read | How UDF won Kerala after a decade: From 'total disarray' to total dominance
"To all my brothers and sisters in Keralam, thank you for your faith and for your overwhelming support. The trust you have placed in us will be the UDF's guiding force as we work hard towards building a better future for each one of you," she said.
In Puducherry, the NDA retained control, with the All India NR Congress leading the alliance’s tally. The Congress and its allies bagged 6 seats. The TVK made its presence felt with three seats.
Scroll below for Live updates.
Live Updates
- 5 May 2026 2:20 PM IST
Vijay appointed Leader of Legislative Party
TVK chief Vijay has been appointed the Leader of the Legislative Party.
- 5 May 2026 2:18 PM IST
TN Governor accepts Stalin's resignation as CM
Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has accepted the resignation of Chief Minister M K Stalin and his council of ministers, the Lok Bhavan said on Tuesday.
The CM had tendered resignation following his party, DMK's defeat in the April 23 Lok Sabha elections.
According to a Lok Bhavan statement, the governor has requested Stalin "to continue in office until alternative arrangements are made." Following the poll debacle, the DMK chief submitted his resignation on Tuesday.
The Tamil Nadu assembly elections were held on April 23. Vijay-led TVK emerged as the single largest party by winning 108 seats, while DMK and AIADMK got 59 and 47, respectively.
- 5 May 2026 1:55 PM IST
EC 'mastered' electoral manipulation: Mehbooba Mufti on Bengal results
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday took a swipe at the EC over the assembly poll results, saying it seems to have mastered the art of "electoral manipulation" and West Bengal is the latest reminder of this "disturbing reality".
In a post on X, she said, "We may not have become 'Vishwaguru, but we seem to have mastered the art of electoral manipulation. West Bengal is the latest reminder of this disturbing reality." She further said that India was admired globally for holding free and fair polls, but now the EC itself is accused of "subverting" the democratic process with the aid of Central agencies.
"India was once admired as a global model for free and fair elections, especially after TN Seshan transformed ECI into a fearless guardian of democracy. Today, that very institution stands accused of subverting the electoral process, aided by central agencies. A tragic fall," she said.
- 5 May 2026 1:47 PM IST
Thirumavalavan says question of support to TVK has not been considered by VCK, Left parties
VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan on Tuesday said that the question of extending support to the Vijay-led TVK has not yet been considered by his party—or the Left—CPI (M) and CPI. He asserted that all key political decisions would be taken jointly by the three parties.
When asked about the stand of the Left parties and the VCK on extending support to TVK, which does not have a majority in the 234-member Assembly, Thirumavalavan told reporters that his party and the Left parties have long been aligned in “secular politics.” Furthermore, Thirumavalavan, flanked by leaders of the CPI and CPI(M), said, “We will continue to take important political decisions jointly in the future as well.” On the question of support for TVK, he clarified that the matter has neither been taken up for consideration nor has any decision been made.
TVK has emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats. DMK has won 59 seats, AIADMK 47, Congress 5, PMK 4, IUML 2, CPI 2, CPI(M) 2, and VCK 2. The BJP, DMDK, and AMMK have won one seat each.
In the April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls as well, the VCK and the Left parties continued to be part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance.
- 5 May 2026 1:28 PM IST
Verdict against ‘violence and arrogance’: KPCC chief Sunny Joseph
A day after the Congress-led UDF registered a massive victory in the Assembly polls, KPCC Chief Sunny Joseph on Tuesday (May 5) accused Pinarayi Vijayan of promoting violence during his tenure as chief minister and said the verdict was a clear mandate against such politics.
Joseph, who retained his Peravoor seat by defeating senior CPI(M) leader and former Health Minister K K Shailaja, urged the CPI(M) to analyse its defeat and understand the sentiments prevailing at the grassroots level.
Addressing reporters, he said that if traditional Left bastions like Kannur have been shaken in the April 9 Assembly polls, its impact would be felt across the state.
"The verdict is a huge setback to the CPI(M)'s violent, autocratic and arrogant politics. The Chief Minister promoted violence, and the people have voted against such stands," Joseph alleged.
He also referred to alleged incidents of "pre-planned murders" of Congress and Youth Congress workers, in which CPI(M) workers have faced accusations and attacks on party activists for showing black flags to Vijayan.
Instead of curbing such incidents, Vijayan supported them, he charged - 5 May 2026 1:18 PM IST
Rangasamy set for fifth term as Puducherry CM
The calm and soft-spoken N Rangasamy is all set to lead Puducherry for the fifth time with his party AINRC-led NDA winning the April 9 elections in the UT with a handsome margin.
The All India NR Congress (AINRC) has now emerged victorious in 12 out of the 16 seats it contested and the BJP won four of the 10 seats it fought. The AIADMK and Latchia Jananayaga Katchi (LJK), other NDA constituents, emerged successful from one seat each and the combine has 18 seats in the 30-member House, two more than the magic number of 16 required to form the government.
Besides, there would be three nominated members.
On the other side the INDIA bloc has garnered six seats--DMK five and one for the Congress. Most of its candidates, including sitting MP and former Chief Minister Ve Vaithilingam, bit the dust in the hustings. Vaithinlingam was defeated by Rangasamy in his turf Thattanchavady.
Rangasamy had been a Congress CM in the past (2001, 2006) before parting ways with the national party to float his outfit in 2008.
- 5 May 2026 1:08 PM IST
Bengal polls: EC recounts votes at Rajarhat New Town seat
The Election Commission (EC) is recounting votes on Tuesday (May 5) in West Bengal's Rajarhat New Town Assembly constituency, the only seat where the result has been withheld, after a candidate raised questions on the slender leading margin.
"The recount is underway today, and once it is completed, we will announce the results," the poll panel official told PTI.
According to the Election Commission's website, Tapash Chatterjee of the Trinamool Congress was leading by 323 votes over his nearest rival, BJP's Piyush Kanodia, after the penultimate 17th round of counting on Monday.
The official on Tuesday said, according to the latest trends, Chatterjee is leading in the seat.
The trailing candidates include Kanodia of the BJP, Firdaus Ali Molla of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party, and Saptarshi Deb of the CPI(M), he added.
- 5 May 2026 12:50 PM IST
Vaiko asks new government to fulfill its poll promises
MDMK leader Vaiko on Tuesday said that the responsibility to implement the promised welfare schemes for the people now rests with the winning party.
MDMK contested in four Assembly constituencies as part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) and was defeated in all of them.
Talking to the reporters after meeting DMK chief M K Stalin, Vaiko said it is now the duty of the "victorious" party to continue to implement all the welfare schemes, which were being implemented by the DMK government. "I hope they will continue it", he added.
To a question on parties in SPA extending support to TVK to form government, Vaiko said, "Our alliance is intact, and the unity has been proven all the time", he said and expressed confidence in the coalition's stability, claiming that no party would attempt to disrupt it.
With regard to the election results, he said: "In democracy, we have to respect the verdict given by the electorate. I respect them".
- 5 May 2026 12:49 PM IST
Put petty politics aside; it's not about one party, but India: Rahul on TMC's loss in polls
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday termed the BJP's victory in Bengal and Assam assembly polls a "theft" of the mandate, and a big step forward in the saffron party's mission to "destroy" Indian democracy.
Gandhi also came out in support of the TMC, which has been trounced by the BJP in the polls, and urged those gloating over the loss of Mamata Banerjee's party to put petty politics aside.
"Some in the Congress, and others, are gloating about TMC's loss.They need to understand this clearly - the theft of Assam and Bengal's mandate is a big step forward by the BJP in its mission to destroy Indian democracy," Rahul said in a post on X.
"Put petty politics aside. This is not about one party or another. This is about India," he said in his post.
The BJP ousted Trinamool Congress from power in Bengal and captured power for the third time in a row in Assam in results of assembly polls declared on Monday.
- 5 May 2026 12:22 PM IST
Anti-incumbency, Sabarimala gold loss issue helped BJP win 3 seats: Muraleedharan
BJP leader and former Union Minister of State V Muraleedharan on Tuesday said that an anti-incumbency sentiment across Kerala and the Sabarimala gold loss issue translated into votes for the saffron party in the April 9 assembly polls, helping it to gain three seats.
The LDF, led by the CPI (M) was defeated in the elections with the Congress-led UDF making a comeback to power. The results were announced on Monday.
Regarding his win from the Kazhakoottam constituency, Muraleedharan said that the issues regarding drinking water and basic amenities have not been addressed in the last 10 years and no steps had been taken for its development.
Kazhakoottam is a major component of the state capital as the technopark is located here and therefore, plans to develop Thiruvananthapuram should take into account this area also, he said. However, no such steps have been taken till now, he claimed.
"Also, the Sabarimala gold loss issue and the fact that it happened when the CPI(M)'s Kazhakoottam candidate -- Kadakampally Surendran -- was the Devaswom Minister, also translated into votes for the BJP," he said.
Muraleedharan, who won by a margin of 428 votes against Surendran, said that the BJP winning three seats this time, has changed the long standing bipolar politics seen in Kerala.
