Poonam Nath

2026 Assembly Elections: Counting to Commence at 8 AM in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry

Digital Desk: The Election Commission of India is set to commence vote counting for the Assembly Election 2026 in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry at 8 AM today. Votes were cast on April 9, April 23, and April 29, with results expected to start coming in by mid-morning and clearer trends emerging by the afternoon.

This counting day is notable, as it involves simultaneous decisions for five legislatures, serving as a crucial indicator for political sentiments leading up to the 2029 general elections.

Most exit polls predict the BJP-led NDA will likely maintain power in Assam, with projections from Axis My India, JVC, and Matrize indicating the NDA could secure between 85 and 101 seats, while the Congress-led alliance may obtain between 23 and 36 seats, suggesting a significant lead for the ruling party ahead of the counting day.

According to recent exit polls, West Bengal is likely to experience a hung assembly, which could threaten Mamata Banerjee's 15-year tenure as chief minister and the Trinamool Congress's unbroken power. The BJP is forecasted to secure between 146 and 161 seats, leading over the Trinamool Congress, which is expected to win between 125 and 140 seats. Another poll predicts the BJP's seats could range from 142 to 171. while the TMC's range is estimated to be between 99 and 127.

In Tamil Nadu, exit polls suggest that actor-turned-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) may become the largest single party, possibly disrupting the long-standing DMK-AIADMK alliance.

Meanwhile, Assam seems set for a third consecutive BJP victory against Congress. In Kerala, the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) is expected to lose, marking the end of the country's only Left-led government.

Lastly, the ruling NDA coalition in Puducherry is expected to retain power against the Congress-DMK alliance.