Early trends from the counting of votes for the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections indicate that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has crossed the majority mark in initial leads, signalling a strong performance in the state.

As counting progressed across constituencies, BJP surged past the halfway mark in early trends, putting it ahead in the high-stakes contest. However, the situation remains dynamic as multiple rounds of counting are still underway.

West Bengal is witnessing a closely fought battle, with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) showing resistance in several seats even as BJP maintains its early advantage. The final outcome will depend on how trends evolve as more votes are counted.

Counting began at 8 am under tight security, with postal ballots taken up first, followed by Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) rounds. Officials have cautioned that early leads may fluctuate as counting advances.

The West Bengal election is among the most closely watched contests, with significant political implications. Final results are expected later in the day as counting continues.

Early trends from the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election counting day show a mixed start for actor-turned-politician Vijay, who is contesting from two constituencies — Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East.

Initial rounds of counting indicate that Vijay has taken a lead in the Perambur seat, a key urban constituency in north Chennai. However, he is trailing in Tiruchirappalli East, reflecting a split trend in his electoral debut.

Perambur has traditionally been seen as a politically significant constituency with a strong working-class and lower-middle-class voter base, making it a crucial battleground in the state’s political landscape.

The counting of votes began at 8 am across all 234 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu, with the contest witnessing a three-cornered fight between the ruling DMK, the AIADMK alliance, and Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

Vijay’s performance in these two seats is being closely watched, as it is seen as a key indicator of how the newly formed TVK is faring in its first major electoral test. His decision to contest from both Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East had already made these constituencies high-profile contests in the state.

As counting progresses, clearer trends are expected to emerge, which will determine whether Vijay can convert early leads into decisive victories or face setbacks in crucial constituencies.

Early trends show tight contest in West Bengal while southern states lean towards DMK and Congress-led alliances

Counting of votes for the 2026 assembly elections began at 8 am across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry, with early trends indicating a mixed political picture across regions.

In West Bengal, initial trends point to a closely fought contest between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP, with both sides running neck-and-neck as counting progresses. The state remains one of the most closely watched battlegrounds due to its high-stakes political contest.

Tamil Nadu, however, is showing an early advantage for the DMK-led alliance. The ruling party appears to be holding ground amid a competitive multi-cornered contest, including new political entrants that have added unpredictability to the race.

In Kerala, early counting trends suggest the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is ahead, indicating a possible shift in the state’s traditional alternating power pattern. The contest remains dynamic, with further rounds of counting expected to shape a clearer picture.

Assam and Puducherry are also witnessing steady counting, though clearer trends are still emerging as more rounds of EVM votes are tallied. Across all five regions, counting began with postal ballots before moving to electronic voting machines, following standard election procedures.

The elections, covering a total of 824 seats, are seen as a major political test for national and regional parties alike, with outcomes likely to influence the broader political landscape in the months ahead.