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 1:20 PM IST
NDA's victory in polls reflects people's continued, growing confidence in PM Modi: Andhra CM
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said NDA's victory in some state polls today reflects people's continued and growing confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his vision for a Viksit Bharat (developed India).
"NDA's victory today reflects the people's continued and growing confidence in the leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji and his vision for Viksit Bharat," said Naidu in a post on X.
According to the chief minister, the election results reinforce NDA as the confluence of people's aspirations, guided by the spirit of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas".
The journey towards a Viksit Bharat has gained further strength with this outcome, he said.
Naidu said people's trust and support for the NDA's steadfast commitment to development is clearly evident, adding that it is also a message to all political parties that Young India values credibility, development, and a genuine connect with citizens.
I extend my heartfelt congratulations to PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President Nitin Nabin, all NDA winners, dedicated karyakartas (party cadres), and the people for this historic mandate, Naidu added.
- 4 May 2026 1:06 PM IST
R G Kar victim’s mother Ratna Debnath of BJP leading by 5067 votes in Panihati
Mother of the RG Kar rape-murder victim and BJP candidate Ratna Debnath was leading by 5067 votes over the Trinamool Congress nominee in Panihati assembly constituency after the second round of counting, EC data said.
Debnath bagged 13784 votes while the TMC's Tirthankar Ghosh secured 8717 votes.
Her daughter, a doctor on duty, was raped and murdered in Kolkata's state-run RG Medical College and Hospital in August 2024.
- 4 May 2026 1:05 PM IST
BJP's Daochier I Imchen wins Koridang bypoll in Nagaland
BJP candidate Daochier I Imchen won the by-election to the Koridang Assembly segment in Nagaland by 3,123 votes on Monday, according to the Election Commission.
He secured 7,317 votes, defeating Independent candidate Toshikaba, who polled 4,194 votes.
Another Independent candidate, Imtiwapang, finished third with 3,633 votes, while NPP nominee I Abenjang polled 3,219 votes.
Congress candidate T Chalukumba Ao secured just 144 votes, while NOTA polled 48 votes.
With this victory, Imchen enters the 14th Nagaland assembly as the youngest legislator at 35.
- 4 May 2026 1:00 PM IST
Latest leads at 1 PM
Tamil Nadu
TVK 107
AIADMK+ 69
DMK+ 57
West Bengal
BJP+ 192
TMC+ 96
Kerala
UDF 86
LDF 39
BJP+ 2
Assam
BJP+ 98
Congress 26
AIUDF+ 2
Puducherry
NRC+ 15
Congress+ 11
- 4 May 2026 12:58 PM IST
Mamata alleges poll irregularities, tells TMC cadres to stay put
Mamata Banerjee on Monday alleged irregularities in the ongoing counting process and urged party workers, candidates and counting agents of the All India Trinamool Congress to remain at counting centres until the process is fully completed.
Addressing party members, Banerjee claimed that the counting pattern was being manipulated to create an early perception in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
“I urge all candidates and counting agents not to leave the counting centres. This is BJP’s plan,” she said, alleging that opposition leads were being shown in the initial rounds while TMC’s numbers were being delayed.
She further claimed that counting had been halted at around 100 locations and raised concerns over EVMs allegedly found in Kalyani. “Seven EVM machines have surfaced in Kalyani which does not tally at all,” Banerjee said.
Accusing central agencies of interfering in the process, she said, “The Central forces are being used to oppress the TMC. They are vandalising our offices.”
Banerjee also targeted the Election Commission of India, alleging collusion in the electoral process. “We will win. Wait and watch,” she told party workers, asking them to stay alert until the final results are declared.
- 4 May 2026 12:51 PM IST
PM Modi likely to address party workers after poll results
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the BJP headquarters on Monday evening, as trends indicate a win for the party in West Bengal and Assam.
The prime minister is also expected to address party workers at the BJP headquarters as has been the case during previous election victories. "Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji will visit BJP HQ, New Delhi today at 6 PM," BJP chief spokesperson Anil Baluni said in a post on X.
Besides West Bengal and Assam, the NDA is also likely to retain power in Puducherry.
- 4 May 2026 12:42 PM IST
Tamil Nadu BJP faces early setbacks in key seats
Several high-profile BJP candidates were trailing in Tamil Nadu as counting continued on Monday, with the party facing stiff competition from candidates of the DMK and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam led by Vijay.
Nainar Nagendran, contesting from Sattur for the first time after moving from Tirunelveli, was trailing DMK candidate Kadarkarairaj A by 909 votes.
Union Minister L. Murugan was behind TVK candidate Kamali S by 2,080 votes in the Avanashi reserved seat. Former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan was trailing TVK’s Venkataramanan P by 9,296 votes in Mylapore.
Vanathi Srinivasan was also behind TVK’s V. Sampath Kumar by 839 votes in Coimbatore North.
The BJP, contesting 27 seats in alliance with the AIADMK, was leading in Nagercoil, Udhagamanalam and Thalli. In Vilavancode, Vijayadharani S was trailing Congress candidate Praveen T T by 6,697 votes.
- 4 May 2026 12:41 PM IST
Bhabanipur: Mamata consolidates lead by 16,706 votes over BJP's Suvendu
West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee consolidated her lead over BJP challenger Suvendu Adhikari by 16,706 votes in the high-profile Bhabanipur constituency in south Kolkata after early jitters.
According to Election Commission data, Banerjee secured 25,942 votes against Adhikari’s 9,236 at the end of the fifth round of counting, building a commanding advantage in what began as a see-saw battle.
The contest witnessed sharp swings in the initial rounds. Banerjee had opened with a lead of 1,996 votes in the first round, polling 3,666 votes against Adhikari’s 1,670.
However, Adhikari overturned the advantage in the second round, moving ahead by 1,558 votes.
Banerjee bounced back in the third round, regaining the lead by 898 votes before she surged ahead by 8,482 votes at the end of the third round.
4 May 2026 12:34 PM IST'Victory for PM Modi': BJP leaders say people of Bengal have voted for change
Exuding confidence about forming the next government in West Bengal, BJP leaders on Monday said people of the state have voted for change and in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP was leading in 171 seats against the TMC's 83 as counting progressed for 293 assembly segments, signalling a political shift in the state.Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari asserted that the BJP will form the next government in the state. Adhikari is seeking a re-election from Nandigram and taking on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur."BJP will form the government. People have given the BJP a clear mandate," Adhikari told reporters. Maintaining that Muslim voters have not gone en masse with the TMC in this election, he claimed that Hindu votes, on the other hand, have consolidated in favour of the BJP."Hindus could not be divided in the name of language, religion and caste," he said. Adhikari said it will be a victory of PM Modi, who led the BJP's campaign in the state."All Hindus have united in favour of PM Modi," he said. State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said he was confident of a landslide victory for the party."People of the state have already rejected the Trinamool Congress government, and in a few hours, the overwhelming majority of the seats will confirm that in the fight between Mamata Banerjee and the people, people have rejected Mamata Banerjee," Bhattacharya said outside a counting centre in Kolkata.BJP's Noapara candidate Arjun Singh said the election will blaze the trail for change. "We firmly believe, with full confidence and trust, that this change will happen and the BJP will win the elections," he said.BJP's Gaighata candidate Subrata Thakur said his party will get more than 180 seats."With Prime Minister Narendra Modi guiding us from Delhi, we will form a double-engine government. In past elections, there were strong-arm tactics. This year the EC ensured free and fair polls. People have voted for 'poriborton'," he said. BJP leader Sishir Bajoria said his party will make a clean sweep in the elections."Have you heard anything from Didi's (CM Mamata Banerjee) side? They have fallen silent," he said.BJP's Darjeeling MP Raju Bista told PTI Videos said the verdict showed those who supported infiltrators, corruption, and could not stop violence against women have been rejected by people. "This victory also paid tribute to the 100 of BJP workers who sacrificed their lives under TMC terror," he said.- 4 May 2026 12:31 PM IST
Badruddin Ajmal leads by over 10,000 votes in Assam
Badruddin Ajmal opened up a significant lead in Assam’s Binnakandi constituency, staying ahead of Assam Jatiya Parishad candidate Rejaul Karim Choudhury by 10,253 votes after the seventh round of counting, according to Election Commission data.
Ajmal had secured 33,615 votes at that stage, while Choudhury had polled 23,362 votes.
The All India United Democratic Front president is contesting the Assembly elections in the state for the second time since 2006.
In his first Assembly election, Ajmal contested from South Salmara and Jamunamukh and won both seats. He later vacated Jamunamukh in favour of his brother, Sirajuddin Ajmal.
Ajmal represented South Salmara until 2009, when he entered the Lok Sabha from Dhubri and held the seat for three consecutive terms until 2024.
