Vote counting LIVE: Vijay shocks Dravidian giants; BJP crosses 200 in Bengal; UDF wave in Kerala
The 2026 election story: The fall of bastions, the rise of a superstar, and a saffron breakthrough in the East.
Extending its saffron spread in eastern India, the BJP is set for a decisive win over the TMC in long elusive West Bengal and headed for another term in Assam while actor-politician Vijay’s TVK made a stunning debut in Tamil Nadu as the largest single party in terms of seats won or led. As votes were counted for Assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, Election Commission trends showed a wipeout of the Left and a solitary win for the Congress that has been battling diminishing electoral returns.
Also Read: Understanding the Vijay phenomenon in Tamil Nadu politics
Also Read: What explains Bengal’s saffron shift? 6 reasons why Mamata was decimated
Also Read: UDF landslide in Kerala: The multiple factors that toppled Left
That silver lining for the opposition party came from Kerala where the Congress-led UDF won or was leading in 101 of the 140 Assembly seats while the CPM-led ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) was ahead in just under 40 constituencies.
The cynosure of Election 2026, however, was West Bengal, the eastern state where the Trinamool Congress was eyeing a fourth straight term in its only bastion. As counting progressed, power for the TMC seemed to be pulling away, further and further. The state’s political landscape was changing with the BJP, its campaign spearheaded by Amit Shah with Modi as its lodestar, pushing ahead in border, tribal and industrial regions, while the TMC held ground in parts of Kolkata and select rural strongholds.
According to the Election Commission, the BJP won or was ahead in 195 of the 294 seats, well ahead of the magic number of 147, power in the state finally within its grasp. The Trinamool Congress tally was 90.
In Assam, where the election was a hot-headed affair too, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma led the BJP to another straight victory with leads in 81 of the 126 seats, leaving the Congress far behind at 19. Congress state unit president Gaurav Gogoi faced his first electoral defeat in Jorhat.
West Bengal was one headline of Election 2026, the other was superstar Vijay, who defied the odds and the taint of a stampede during his rally in September 2025 in which 41 people were killed. That was clearly in the past as his party broke bipolar Dravidian politics and was poised to become the largest single party in Tamil Nadu with wins and leads in 109 of the state’s 234 seats. The ruling DMK that had started the morning at number three position was at 61 and the AIADMK at 44.
Chief Minister M K Stalin lost in Kolathur. According to Election Commission data, 15 other ministers were also lagging behind.
The choice, it appeared, was clear. Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar could well join the pantheon of MGR and Jayalalithaa as the stars who made it big in the political firmament.
In Kerala, Congress broke Left's grip, winning over 100 seats. In Puducherry, the All India NR Congress had won or was ahead in 11 of the 30 seats. The DMK stood at five and the BJP at four. The TVK made its presence felt with three.
In Assam, the BJP-led NDA is set to create history surging towards a landslide victory. Under the leadership of Himanta Biswa Sarma, the party is on track to secure a record third consecutive term, with leads comfortably crossing the majority mark.
As the counting is underway, follow our live updates below:
Live Updates
- 4 May 2026 9:23 AM IST
Neck-to-neck contest in Bengal beween BJP and TMC
TN
DMK+ 63
TVK 40
AIADMK+ 27
Bengal
BJP+ 148
TMC+ 103
Kerala
UDF 46
LDF 27
BJP+ 4
Assam
BJP+ 72
Congress 23
AIUDF+ 1
Puducherry
NRC+ 11
TVK+ 4
- 4 May 2026 9:21 AM IST
Vijay leads in Perambur, Trails in Trichy East shows early trends
TVK chief Vijay posted an early lead in Perambur while trailing in Tiruchirappalli East as vote counting began in Tamil Nadu, creating contrasting signals in the two constituencies chosen for his first electoral test. Both seats are currently held by the DMK, adding political significance to the contests.
Perambur, Assembly constituency number 12 in North Chennai, falls under the Chennai North Lok Sabha segment and has roughly 2.22 lakh voters. Long seen as an important urban pocket shaped by Dravidian politics, the constituency has largely favoured the DMK in recent years. In the 2021 election, R.D. Sekar secured victory with 52.53 per cent of the vote.
Vijay, leading Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), is also in the fray from Tiruchirappalli East. Contesting two difficult constituencies reflects an assertive strategy as he seeks to challenge the ruling party’s influence across northern and central Tamil Nadu.
- 4 May 2026 9:21 AM IST
Trends indicate Vijay's TVK may replace AIADMK as main Opposition in TN
If trends continue to remain the same, actor-politician Vijay's TVK is set to emerge as a key player in Tamil Nadu and replace AIADMK as the principal Opposition party in the state.
TVK pushed AIADMK to third position in several constituencies while DMK continued to be ahead in the race.
This clearly indicated that Vijay's TVK may change the traditional bipolar electoral politics of Tamil Nadu.
- 4 May 2026 9:18 AM IST
Suvendu takes lead over Mamata in Bhabanipur
Early trends from television channels indicated that BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was leading in the high-profile Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in West Bengal.
The Election Commission is yet to release any figures.
Officials said counting of postal ballots is currently underway, with EVM counting to follow.
According to initial trends aired by India Today and Republic Bangla, Adhikari was ahead of his nearest rival Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the constituency, which has been a prestige battleground in the state election.
The Bhabanipur seat has traditionally been a stronghold of the TMC and is closely associated with Mamata.
- 4 May 2026 9:12 AM IST
BJP+ leading in over 100 seats in Bengal; DMK+ maintains lead in TN
Early leads
TN
DMK+ 59
AIADMK+ 27
TVK 27
Bengal
BJP+ 109
TMC+ 89
Kerala
UDF 39
LDF 20
BJP+ 5
Assam
BJP+ 60
Congress 18
AIUDF+ 1
Puducherry
NRC+ 10
TVK+ 5
- 4 May 2026 9:03 AM IST
The Federal's reporters decode Mandate 2026
Will Stalin and Pinarayi script history? Can Suvendu uproot TMC in Bengal? Will Cong make a comeback in Assam? Watch as results unfold. - 4 May 2026 8:57 AM IST
Bengal: BJP leads in 67 seats
Early trends from 127 of the 293 constituencies in Bengal
TMC - 58
BJP - 67
Congress 2
- 4 May 2026 8:55 AM IST
Himanta, Gaurav take early leads in Assam
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi were leading in Jalukbari and Jorhat Assembly constituencies, respectively.
Assam Jatiya Parishad president Lurinjyoti Gogoi was also ahead in Khowang.
Former senior Congress leaders Pradyut Bordoloi and Bhupen Borah, who joined the BJP ahead of the polls, were leading in Dispur and Bihpuria constituencies, respectively.
The ruling BJP was leading in 17 constituencies, while the Congress was ahead in eight, as per the trends.
The Election Commission is yet to release official figures.
Counting of votes began at 8 am, with postal ballots being taken up first.
- 4 May 2026 8:51 AM IST
Early leads: BJP ahead in Bengal
TN
DMK+ 41
AIADMK+ 22
TVK 10
Bengal
BJP+ 58
TMC+ 39
Kerala
UDF 20
LDF 8
BJP+ 4
Assam
BJP+ 40
Congress 14
AIUDF+ 1
Puducherry
NRC+ 6
TVK+ 4
