NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appeared to be charting a path to victory in West Bengal, leading in 194 seats against the ruling All India Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) 91, while also surging ahead in Assam with a strong lead. In Tamil Nadu, actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) was set for a striking debut, leading in 105 seats and pushing the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) to second place, according to trends on the Election Commission of India website. In Kerala, the Indian National Congress was ahead in 61 seats, followed by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) with 29 and the Communist Party of India with nine.As counting progressed across West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, the eastern political landscape appeared to tilt decisively.Also Visit: Bengal Election Results 2026
West Bengal remained the focal point of Election 2026, with BJP mounting a strong challenge to the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC. The campaign was marked by sharp contestation over issues such as electoral rolls, alleged rigging and polarisation.Over 2.5 lakh personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces, along with state police, were deployed, even as BJP and TMC faced off outside several strong rooms ahead of counting. While BJP sought a historic breakthrough, the TMC was battling to retain power for a fourth consecutive term.Leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari expressed confidence of victory, asserting that the BJP would form the government. The TMC leadership, however, adopted a cautious approach, preferring to wait for clearer trends.In Assam, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma led the BJP to a commanding position, with the party ahead in 74 of the 126 seats, leaving the Congress trailing with 23.In Tamil Nadu, Vijay emerged as a major headline of the election, with his party poised to become the single largest force. The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam was ahead in 67 seats, while the DMK trailed with 38, indicating a significant political shift.Kerala offered some respite to Congress, where the United Democratic Front (UDF) surged ahead, suggesting a possible return to power. Kerala Pradesh Congress committee chief Sunny Joseph said the trends reflected a pro-UDF wave and expressed confidence of crossing the 100-seat mark in the 140-member assembly.In Puducherry, Congress and BJP were tied with two seats each, while the All India N.R. Congress was ahead in seven of the 30 seats where trends were available.
