Assembly elections LIVE: Assam, Kerala and Puducherry see high turnout

Assam records 85.21 pc polling, CM says high voter turnout 'not ordinary but historic'

Polling for all 126 Assam assembly constituencies ended at 5 pm on Thursday, with an estimated voter turnout of 85.21 per cent, surpassing the previous figure of 82.04 per cent in the 2021 elections, officials said.

The polling percentage was expected to rise further as people who had entered the booths before 5 pm would be allowed to vote, they said.

The poll percentage in 16 constituencies, mostly in minority-dominated areas, have already crossed the 90-per cent mark, while 83 constituencies are in the range of 80-89 per cent and the remainder in the 70-79 per cent category, the officials said.

Dalgaon recorded the highest voter turnout at 95.53 per cent, while New Guwahati registered the lowest at 72.05 per cent, they said.

A total of 722 candidates are in the fray for the elections, which is largely witnessing a direct contest between the BJP-led ruling coalition and the opposition bloc helmed by the Congress.

The BJP-led NDA is seeking a third consecutive term in power in Assam, while the Congress is striving to reclaim a state it lost a decade ago.

Altogether, 2.50 crore people were eligible to exercise their franchise, including 1.25 crore women and 318 from the third gender. Voting was held in 31,490 polling stations across the state.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the high voter turnout as ''not ordinary but historic".

Puducherry records 89.87 polling percentage, highest since first polls in 1964

Puducherry Union Territory has registered a record 89.87 polling percentage for the 2026 Assembly election, a top official said here on Thursday.

The polling percentage of 89.87 per cent is the highest since 1964 when the first Assembly election was held following the merger of the territory with India after its independence from France, Chief Electoral Officer, P Jawahar said.

In 1974, the polling percentage was 85.33 and in 2006 it was 85.29 and in 2011 it was 85.57, the CEO said in a statement.

The turnout for the 2026 Assembly election is the highest starting from the first polls held in 1964 and till now, including those held for Lok Sabha and the Assembly, he added. 

Kerala Assembly polls end peacefully with over 78 pc turnout in high-stakes contest

Over 78 per cent of Kerala's voters on Thursday queued up across polling stations in 140 Assembly segments to elect the next government, with the state closing in towards its second best voter turnout in the process.

The strong turnout will decide whether the ruling LDF secures a straight third term, the UDF makes a comeback, or the BJP springs a surprise in an otherwise bipolar contest.

The polling process was largely peaceful, with only minor technical issues reported at a few locations.

According to the figures released after 8 pm, 78.12 per cent of the 2.71 crore voters had cast their votes, and this is higher than the 74.06 per cent polling recorded in the 2021 Assembly elections.

In the 1987 polls, the state registered 80.54 per cent polling. The highest-ever recorded turnout in the state during Assembly elections is 85.72 per cent in 1960, according to PIB data.

Officials said the final turnout is expected to rise further as late voters in queues are counted. If the trend continues, the overall turnout could cross 80.54 per cent registered in 1987.

K'taka bypolls: Over 68 per cent voter turnout in Bagalkot, Davanagere South

Over 68 per cent voter turnout was recorded in Bagalkot and Davanagere South Assembly constituencies in Karnataka, where bypolls were held on Thursday, as Congress is eyeing retention of the key seats, while the BJP seeks to make gains there.

According to the Election Commission, the turnout in Bagalkot was 68.74 per cent, and it was 68.43 per cent in Davanagere South.

The polls were necessitated by the deaths of senior Congress MLAs H Y Meti (Bagalkot) and Shamanur Shivashankarappa (Davanagere South). Counting of votes will take place on May 4.

Although the outcome of these by-elections is unlikely to have an immediate impact on state politics, the contest is seen as a matter of prestige for both the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP.

While the Congress faces the challenge of retaining both seats, the BJP aims to wrest them and deliver a setback to the ruling party, which is currently witnessing an "internal power struggle" over leadership.

A total of over 2.59 lakh voters were eligible to cast their votes at around 319 polling stations in Bagalkot, where nine candidates were in the fray.

In Davanagere South, over 2.31 lakh were eligible to vote across 284 polling stations, with 25 candidates contesting.

Assam voter turnout signals a change: Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi, who is spearheading the Opposition alliance in this year's Assembly elections in the state, on Thursday thanked the people for turning out in large numbers to vote. He said the turnout indicated that the people were looking for a change. 

People voted with the hope of a "New Bor-Asom" (New and Greater Assam) and new leadership, Gogoi said in a statement.

"It is now the responsibility of the Election Commission to ensure the security of the EVMs and conduct accurate counting of votes on May 4," he said.

Gaurav also thanked Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi, MP Priyanka Gandhi, AICC general secretary in-charge of Assam Jitendra Singh, and the election observers in charge of the state, besides his party's alliance partners — Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad, CPI(M), CPI(ML), and the All Party Hill Leaders Conference.

CM Himanta Biswa Sarma hails Assam voter turnout: 'Historic, not ordinary'

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said the high turnout in Thursday's assembly election was not "ordinary but historic".

Sarma said the result of this election is “already visible – in the hope, pride, and happiness on the faces of our people”.

Polling for all 126 Assembly constituencies of the north-eastern state, was held in a single phase, with an estimated voter turnout of 84.42 per cent, which was expected to rise further.

“What we set out to do was not merely fight an election, but to turn it into a movement – a movement to protect our civilisational values, our culture, and our land,” Sarma said in a post on X.

He is eyeing his second consecutive stint in this election. 

Voter turnout crosses 84% in Assam, 75% in Kerala, 86% in Puducherry at 5 pm

In the state Assembly elections, the approximate voter turnout as of 5 pm stood at 84.42% in Assam, 75.01% in Kerala, and 86.92% in Puducherry.

Kerala polling trend at 5 pm

Overall turnout: 75.01% 

District-wise turnout

Alappuzha – 74.47%

Ernakulam – 77.25%

Idukki – 74.55%

Kannur – 74.83%

Kasaragod – 74.55%

Kollam – 73.48%

Kottayam – 72.18%

Kozhikode – 77.63%

Malappuram – 75.70%

Palakkad – 77.09%

Pathanamthitta – 68.90%

Thiruvananthapuram – 74.11%

Thrissur – 74.34%

Wayanad – 74.72%

Goa bypoll cancellation ‘political conspiracy’ by EC, BJP: AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday alleged that the scrapping of the Ponda Assembly bypoll in Goa was the result of a “political conspiracy” involving the Election Commission of India and the BJP.

The Bombay High Court had, a day earlier, quashed the ECI’s notification just before voting, citing provisions of the Representation of the People Act since the Assembly’s remaining term is under a year. The court refused to stay its order, leading to the cancellation of the poll despite postal ballots already being cast.

Goa AAP president Valmiki Naik claimed the election schedule was deliberately delayed so that any new MLA would serve a curtailed term. While accepting the verdict, he raised concerns that Ponda would remain unrepresented for about 16 months. The vacancy followed the death of BJP MLA Ravi Naik.

Karnataka bypolls: Turnout nears 55 per cent in Bagalkot, 50 per cent in Davanagere

Polling in the Karnataka Assembly by-elections for Bagalkot and Davanagere South was underway on Thursday, with voter participation reaching 54.82 per cent in Bagalkot and 49.66 per cent in Davanagere South as of 3 pm.

The contest places the ruling Congress in a defensive position as it seeks to hold on to both constituencies, while the BJP is attempting to capture them and dent its rival, which it has criticised over an ongoing internal leadership tussle.

These bypolls were triggered by the deaths of senior Congress legislators H Y Meti (Bagalkot) and Shamanur Shivashankarappa (Davanagere South).

In Bagalkot, more than 2.59 lakh registered voters are expected to vote across 319 polling stations, with nine candidates in the race. Davanagere South has over 2.31 lakh voters, 284 polling stations, and 25 candidates contesting.

The BJP has nominated former MLA and 2023 election loser Veerabhadrayya Charantimath in Bagalkot, and introduced a new face, Srinivas T Dasakariyappa, in Davanagere South.

The Congress, meanwhile, has fielded relatives of the deceased legislators. Umesh Meti, son of H Y Meti, is contesting from Bagalkot, while Samarth Mallikarjun, grandson of Shamanur Shivashankarappa, is the party’s candidate in Davanagere South.