May 4, 2026
Counting of votes began on Monday across four states and the union territory of Puducherry, providing a midterm gauge of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the third term. Ballot tallies for assemblies in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry started at 8 a.m. local time.
The Election Commission deployed extra observers and a three-tier security arrangement in West Bengal amid fears of unrest after a bruising campaign. West Bengal recorded turnout of 92.47%, one of the highest in the state’s history.
West Bengal: BJP surge, TMC resistance
Early trends showed the BJP mounting an unexpected challenge in West Bengal, a state it has never ruled. Major outlets at one point reported the BJP leading in roughly 190–195 of the 294 seats, a sharp rise from the three seats it held after 2021. Jubilant BJP supporters paraded through Kolkata, and party offices distributed food and sweets as celebrations spread.
The mood around Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence was subdued and tense. Banerjee urged party agents to stay at counting centres, alleging a BJP plot to intimidate voters and manipulate results and accusing the Election Commission of bias. She has not conceded and warned supporters that the ‘real results’ would emerge later.
Analysts warned that a BJP advance in West Bengal could reflect rejection of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) as much as a direct endorsement of the BJP. The campaign had polarizing themes, including allegations that voter-roll purges disproportionately affected marginalized communities and a bitter debate over cultural and dietary politics — including claims that the BJP would restrict fish and meat consumption, which BJP leaders denied.
Kerala: Congress comeback
In Kerala, early returns suggested a return to power for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). Initial data had the UDF leading in about 94 of 140 seats, with the Indian National Congress itself ahead in roughly 62 constituencies. Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor described the trend as a ‘historic’ mandate, which, if sustained, would break long-standing left dominance in one of the Left’s last strongholds.
Assam, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu
Exit polls and early counts pointed to the BJP retaining power in Assam for a third consecutive term, continuing a decade of BJP-led rule in the northeastern state. In Puducherry, projections suggested the BJP-backed alliance would keep control of the small coastal territory.
Tamil Nadu presented a more mixed picture. While exit polls had favored a DMK-led alliance to stay in power, actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar — known as Vijay — was reported to be taking an early lead in his political debut, introducing the possibility of unexpected shifts in regional politics.
National implications
Taken together, these state results were widely viewed as having broader significance for Modi’s national standing and the BJP’s push into states where it has historically struggled. A strong showing in West Bengal, coupled with continued dominance in Assam, would expand the BJP’s regional reach; conversely, setbacks in Kerala or elsewhere would underscore limits to the party’s appeal.
Other developments
– Vote counting logistics: Security teams guarded strongrooms containing electronic voting machines (EVMs). Officials expected multiple rounds of counting to clarify winners as the day progressed.
– Operation Sindoor and defence posture: Ahead of the one-year anniversary of cross-border clashes with Pakistan, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised ‘Operation Sindoor’ as an example of modern technological warfare, saying the armed forces showed restraint and capability in responding to the May 2025 Pahalgam attack.
– Tragedy in Uttar Pradesh: In Ambedkar Nagar district, a speeding car struck a crowd gathered to help earlier road-crash victims, killing at least eight people and injuring others. Local hospitals reported multiple fatalities.
– Media and culture: YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia (BeerBiceps) said he is making a documentary about the 2025 ‘India’s Got Latent’ controversy involving comedian Samay Raina, a dispute that led to police complaints, regulatory scrutiny and wider debate over online content standards.
What to watch next
Official results will be declared after counting concludes and the Election Commission verifies constituency outcomes. Observers will be watching whether the BJP’s early advances translate into clear governing mandates in new states, how regional parties fare, and whether contested counts in battlegrounds like West Bengal lead to disputes or unrest.