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 4:57 PM IST
BJP wins 6 Seats, leads in 196 in Bengal
The BJP made major gains in West Bengal on Monday, winning six Assembly seats and leading in 196 others as counting progressed, signalling a dramatic surge for the party in the state.
According to Election Commission figures, the BJP had already secured victories in Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Monteswar, Bhatar, Medinipur and Asansol Dakshin. Among the winners were Bharat Kumar Chetri, Saikat Panja, Karfa Soumen, Agnimitra Paul, Sankar Kumar Guchhait and Noman Rai.
The TMC retained Bhagawangola, where Reyat Hossain Sarkar won by 56,407 votes. The party was also leading in 87 other constituencies.
Sources in the TMC said at least 23 ministers were trailing, including Bratya Basu, Manas Ranjan Bhunia, Shashi Panja and Chandrima Bhattacharya, reported PTI.
Counting continued in 293 of the state’s 294 constituencies after polling in Falta was countermanded by the Election Commission.
- 4 May 2026 4:42 PM IST
Sachin Pilot calls UDF’s Kerala win historic, eyes next step
Calling the Congress-led UDF’s performance in the Kerala Assembly elections “historic”, senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Monday said the alliance’s emphatic mandate would reshape the political landscape of the state.
Pilot, who served as the Congress’ senior observer for the Kerala polls, said there would be no confusion over the chief ministerial choice, asserting that the party leadership would make the final decision after consulting legislators, senior leaders, allies and other stakeholders.
“We had made a commitment before the polls that once we secure the mandate then all the elected legislators will sit with the leadership,” Pilot said, adding that the final call would be taken by Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and the party’s senior leadership in Delhi.
He said whatever decision the leadership takes would be accepted by every Congress worker in Kerala.
Pilot credited the victory to the efforts of party workers and top leaders, saying the Congress’ guarantees and campaign message had found support among voters.
According to Election Commission trends, the UDF was leading or had won over 95 seats in the 140-member Assembly, putting the alliance on course to return to power after 10 years of LDF rule.
- 4 May 2026 4:35 PM IST
Lauest lead at 4.34 pm
Tamil Nadu
TVK 108
AIADMK+ 53
DMK+ 72
West Bengal
BJP+ 199
TMC+ 88
Kerala
UDF 90
LDF 35
BJP+ 2
Assam
BJP+ 100
Congress 22
AIUDF+ 2
Puducherry
NRC+ 17
Congress+ 8
- 4 May 2026 4:29 PM IST
Pijush Hazarika wins Jagiroad by over 93,000 votes
BJP's Pijush Hazarika registered a decisive victory in the Jagiroad Assembly constituency on Monday, defeating the Congress candidate by a margin of 93,584 votes, according to Election Commission figures.
The senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader has now won from Jagiroad for a third consecutive term and secured his fourth straight Assembly victory overall.
Hazarika first entered the Assembly in 2011 after winning from the Raha constituency. He later shifted to Jagiroad, where he went on to win successive elections in 2016, 2021 and now in 2026.
Election Commission data showed Hazarika polling 1,55,129 votes, comfortably ahead of Congress nominee Bubul Das, who secured 61,545 votes.
A key member of the Assam government, Hazarika has handled portfolios including Water Resources, Parliamentary Affairs, and Information and Public Relations. Before joining the BJP, he was with the Congress and is considered a close associate of Himanta Biswa Sarma.
He also served as a minister in the first BJP government in Assam led by Sarbananda Sonowal.
- 4 May 2026 4:28 PM IST
Jagan Mohan Reddy hails Vijay as TVK emerges biggest party in TN
Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday congratulated Vijay after Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam emerged as the single largest party in Tamil Nadu in its maiden electoral outing.
Describing the achievement as remarkable, the former Andhra Pradesh chief minister extended his wishes to Vijay as he begins what he called a new phase of public service.
“A special and heartfelt shoutout to my dear brother, Vijay! Emerging as the single largest party in your very first election is impressive. Wishing you immense strength and success as you embark on this new chapter of service,” Reddy posted on X, adding, “God be with you.”
Reddy also expressed sympathy for Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal, where the All India Trinamool Congress was trailing the NDA.
He also congratulated the BJP and other parties for their performance in the election results, particularly in West Bengal and Assam.
As of 4.14 pm, TVK was leading in 109 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu.
- 4 May 2026 4:26 PM IST
Union Minister George Kurian finishes third in Kerala’s Kanjirappally seat
George Kurian finished third in the Kanjirappally Assembly constituency in the Kerala elections, according to counting trends on Monday.
Kurian, who serves as Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, as well as Minority Affairs, was fielded by the Bharatiya Janata Party from the constituency, which has a sizeable Christian population.
After 15 of the 16 rounds of counting, Kurian was trailing Congress candidate Rony K. Baby by 29,585 votes. Election Commission figures showed Baby leading with 56,646 votes.
Sitting MLA N. Jayaraj of Kerala Congress was in second place with 50,874 votes, while Kurian had secured 26,984 votes.
Despite Kurian’s defeat, the BJP had reasons to celebrate elsewhere, with the party winning the Nemom and Chathannoor Assembly constituencies in the state.
- 4 May 2026 4:19 PM IST
BJP-NDA dominates Assam as the party wins 11 seats, leads in 71
The ruling BJP strengthened its position in Assam on Monday, winning 11 Assembly seats and leading in 71 others as counting continued, according to Election Commission data. Its ally, the Bodoland People's Front, had secured one seat and was leading in nine more constituencies.
The Indian National Congress was ahead in 19 seats, while BJP ally Asom Gana Parishad was leading in nine constituencies.
The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) led by Badruddin Ajmal had won one seat and was ahead in another, while Akhil Gogoi-led Raijor Dal was leading in two seats.
Among key victories, Assam minister Pijush Hazarika retained Jagiroad for a fourth straight term, while BJP veteran Hitendranath Goswami defeated Congress state chief Gaurav Gogoi in Jorhat.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also built a massive lead of 73,750 votes in Jalukbari, underlining the NDA’s dominant showing in the state.
- 4 May 2026 3:58 PM IST
Stalin loses Kolathur as Vijay’s TVK surges in Tamil Nadu
DMK MK Stalin has lost from the Kolathur Assembly constituency as Vijay-led TVK continues its dramatic surge across the state. He has lost to TVK's V.S Babu. TVK’s strong performance has reshaped the electoral landscape, with the party emerging as a major challenger in its debut election and delivering a severe blow to the ruling DMK in several key constituencies.
- 4 May 2026 3:48 PM IST
BJP wins Monteswar, TMC retains Bhagawangola in Bengal
The BJP opened its account with a key win in the Monteswar Assembly constituency in West Bengal, while the ruling All India Trinamool Congress held on to Bhagawangola with a commanding margin, according to results announced by the Election Commission on Monday.
In Monteswar, located in Purba Bardhaman district, BJP candidate Saikat Panja defeated TMC minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury by 14,798 votes, handing the ruling party a significant setback.
In Murshidabad district’s Bhagawangola constituency, TMC candidate Reyat Hossain Sarkar registered a decisive victory over CPI(M) nominee Mahamudal Hasan by 56,407 votes.
The results came as counting continued across the state to decide the composition of the 294-member Assembly. Voting was counted in 293 constituencies after polling in Falta, in South 24 Parganas, was countermanded by the Election Commission.
Election Commission data also showed the BJP leading in 195 seats, while the TMC was ahead in 92, pointing to a dramatic shift in the state’s political landscape.
- 4 May 2026 3:44 PM IST
Security tightened at Mamata’s home as counting goes on
Security was significantly tightened around the Kalighat residence of Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on Monday afternoon after a group of people reportedly gathered near the area and raised “Jai Sree Ram” slogans, prompting intervention following directions from the Election Commission of India, a senior official said.
Security arrangements were also reinforced around Nabanna, the state secretariat, after the poll panel’s directive.
According to Election Commission data available till 3.30 pm, the Bharatiya Janata Party was leading in 195 seats in the 294-member West Bengal Assembly, while Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress was ahead in 92 constituencies.
“Central forces have been deployed around Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence and state secretariat after we got reports that a group of people reached there and raised slogans. We do not want any disruption of law and order,” the official said.
He added, “We will not take any chance, and anyone trying to break the peace will face strict action.”
The Election Commission has also directed police not to allow victory rallies by any political party on Monday in order to maintain law and order. Victory processions will be permitted from Tuesday.
