New Delhi: Counting of votes got underway in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry on Monday following a fiercely contested round of assembly elections across four states and a Union Territory earlier this month.
The results hold major implications for dominant regional outfits like the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and DMK, alongside national forces including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, and Left fronts.
Counting kicked off at 8 a.m. across designated centres, beginning with postal ballots under a robust three-tier security protocol. The Election Commission has rolled out a QR code-linked Photo Identity Card mechanism via ECINET to block unauthorized access to venues.
The 2026 assembly elections spanned April 9 to 29 in these regions. Kerala, Assam and Puducherry voted in one phase on April 9, while Tamil Nadu and West Bengal’s initial phase occurred on April 23, followed by Bengal’s second phase on April 29.
A combined 823 constituencies across these areas saw polling last month.
Bengal Polls: Security Blanket Over 293 Seats
Counting for West Bengal’s 293 assembly constituencies is happening at 77 centres, amid heavy security and pre-result tensions, with TMC and BJP both voicing fears of foul play.
The two-round voting wrapped on April 29, registering a 92.47% turnout — the highest ever post-Independence.
The EC mandated fresh voting in Falta constituency (South 24 Parganas) over “severe electoral offences,” scheduled for May 21.
Mamata Banerjee’s TMC aims for a fourth straight victory against a fierce BJP challenge, as CPI(M) and Congress fight to regain ground after 2021’s debacle. Fringe groups like Humayun Kabir’s AJUP and Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM are contesting select hotspots.
Counting centres have been reduced to 77 from an initial 87 and 108 in 2021, reinforced by multi-layer security. “Comprehensive security arrangements have been made to ensure that counting is conducted in a peaceful, transparent and orderly manner,” a senior EC official told news agency PTI.
The poll panel added 165 counting observers and 77 police overseers, enforcing strict entry rules like mobile phone bans for all but returning officers and observers.
Assam: BJP Bloc Eyes Hat-Trick
In Assam, the BJP-led NDA pursues a third consecutive mandate. EVMs sealing the destiny of 722 aspirants across 126 seats are being unsealed at 40 centers in 35 districts.
Some 25 CAPF companies have been deployed to secure counting centres and EVM strongrooms, with two more on static guard and 93 state armed police units in place, authorities noted.
The April 9 single-phase poll recorded 85.96% participation.
Congress fielded 99 candidates, trailed by BJP (90), AIUDF (30), ally AGP (26), and BPF (11). In the opposition fold, Raijor Dal has 13, Assam Jatiya Parishad 10, CPI(M) three and All Party Hill Leaders Conference two.
Notable faces include BJP’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Congress state chief Gaurav Gogoi, Speaker Biswajit Daimary, and Raijor Dal leader/MP Akhil Gogoi.
Tamil Nadu, Kerala & Puducherry
Tamil Nadu’s DMK eyes back-to-back rule in a reshaped landscape, facing AIADMK plus newcomers TVK (actor Vijay) and NTK (Seeman).
All setups are ready, with three-tier security at 62 centres, said Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik. Around 1.25 lakh personnel — including officials, micro-observers, and police — are mobilized.
In Kerala, Congress-led UDF, boosted by 2024 Lok Sabha and local gains, seeks to topple two-term LDF rule on 140 seats (883 candidates, 140 centres in 43 spots) — potentially ending statewide Left governance since the 1960s. BJP’s NDA pushes for breakthrough.
BJP sees this as key to Kerala expansion after 2021’s shutout.
Puducherry has six centres, where NDA (AINRC, BJP, AIADMK, LJK) clashes with INDIA (Congress, DMK, VCK).
By-elections tally in eight seats from last month’s MLA vacancies: Ponda (Goa), Bagalkot/Davangere South (Karnataka), Koridang (Nagaland), Dharmanagar (Tripura), Umreth (Gujarat), Rahuri/Baramati (Maharashtra).
