Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reacted with a brief “Bloody hell” on X as early trends showed major shifts in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. The Bharatiya Janata Party surged ahead in West Bengal, moving towards forming its first government. In Tamil Nadu, actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam crossed 100 seats in its debut. His short post drew quick reactions online. Users shared memes and comments as counting trends pointed to big changes in both states. (PC: India Today)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at the Sakhawat Memorial counting hall in Kolkata as vote counting for the 2026 Assembly elections got underway. Her presence comes amid heightened political tension and close scrutiny over strongroom security, EVM handling, and earlier allegations exchanged between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP. The counting centre is one of the key locations where results will shape the state’s next government. Banerjee has repeatedly urged party workers to remain vigilant throughout counting day, reflecting the high stakes surrounding the Bengal contest. With trends expected to emerge through the day, all eyes are now on Kolkata and the final outcome in the crucial hours ahead now.

The Bharatiya Janata Party achieved a historic breakthrough in Kerala by winning three Assembly seats for the first time. A key victory came in Kazhakoottam, where V. Muraleedharan defeated CPI(M) leader Kadakampally Surendran, marking a significant political upset. The party also secured two additional seats previously held by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), reflecting a shift in voter dynamics within the state. This milestone signals BJP’s growing footprint in a region traditionally dominated by Left and Congress-led alliances, potentially reshaping Kerala’s long-standing political landscape. (PC: X)

Congress MP K. C. Venugopal alleged that the ruling Left Democratic Front government in Kerala was marked by corruption, citing strong anti-incumbency sentiment among voters. Reacting to ongoing election trends, he said the Indian National Congress effectively capitalised on public dissatisfaction during its campaign. Venugopal also claimed that voters were showing support for senior leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. His remarks reflect the Congress’s optimism of a favourable outcome as counting progresses in the closely watched Kerala Assembly elections.

The Bharatiya Janata Party secured key victories in Assam, with Hitendranath Goswami winning Jorhat by 23,182 votes against Gaurav Gogoi. In Dhemaji, minister Ranoj Pegu retained the seat, continuing his electoral success since the 2017 bypoll. BJP’s Jiban Gogoi also emerged victorious from Sissibargaon. Meanwhile, Bodoland People's Front candidate Charan Boro won Mazbat with a margin of 55,546 votes, marking his third assembly victory. These results strengthen the NDA’s position in the state as counting continues.

Workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party celebrated at party headquarters as early assembly election trends showed the party performing strongly across multiple regions. Leads in West Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry contributed to a festive atmosphere among supporters. In West Bengal, the BJP appeared poised for a significant breakthrough, while in Assam it moved closer to retaining power. In Puducherry too, trends indicated an advantage for the party-led alliance. As counting progressed, celebrations intensified, reflecting optimism within party ranks about consolidating gains and expanding its political footprint across states in this crucial election cycle.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has taken a commanding lead in over 190 seats in West Bengal, putting it on course to form its first government in the state. As the Trinamool Congress trails significantly, BJP workers gathered outside Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence in Kolkata, chanting slogans. Banerjee, however, alleged irregularities, claiming counting was slowed or halted in around 100 seats and that leads in favour of her party were being suppressed. She urged party workers to remain vigilant at counting centres. If trends hold, the result could end TMC’s 15-year rule and mark a major political shift.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is leading in all four assembly seats of Jhargram including Nayagram, Gopiballavpur, Jhargram and Binpur signalling a potential breakthrough in West Bengal. The region, part of Junglemahal with a significant SC/ST population, appears to have shifted support. A symbolic moment during campaigning, when Narendra Modi stopped to eat jhalmuri, gained attention and was later framed as a connect with local culture. While the Trinamool Congress dismissed it as staged, BJP leaders linked it to voter outreach. Early trends suggest this “jhalmuri effect” may have contributed to BJP’s strong performance in the district. (PC: India Today)

The Bharatiya Janata Party is set to form the government in West Bengal, ending the 15-year rule of Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress. The BJP is nearing 200 seats, while TMC is far behind in double digits. The party gained in North Bengal and also made inroads into TMC strongholds like Medinipur and Burdwan. Urban areas like Kolkata and Howrah also showed strong support for the BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier said, “The river Ganga flows to Bengal via Bihar.” The results now reflect that shift. (PC: X)

Early trends in the Assam Assembly election show the National Democratic Alliance leading in over 70 of 126 seats, inching towards a majority as counting progresses. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is leading from Jalukbari, while Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi trails behind BJP’s Hitendranath Goswami in Jorhat. Counting is underway across 40 centres in 35 districts, with multi-centre arrangements in select regions. The contest will determine whether the NDA secures a third consecutive term or if the Congress-led alliance returns to power after a decade. Both sides had earlier expressed confidence of winning close to 100 seats. (PC: X)