Assembly Election 2026 Live Updates: Security tightened at strongrooms ahead of counting on Monday

Voting for the 2026 assembly elections across key states has concluded, with the focus now shifting to exit polls that offer an early indication of possible outcomes ahead of the final results on May 4. The elections, particularly in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry, have been closely watched due to their political significance and high-stakes contests.

In West Bengal, polling across 142 constituencies in the second phase marked a decisive moment, with over 3.22 crore voters participating. The election saw intense mobilisation, aided by a high turnout in the first phase and sharp political messaging around issues such as the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and voter eligibility concerns. Exit polls now suggest a tightly contested race, with most projections pointing to a hung assembly and a near-even split between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP, signalling a strong challenge to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s long-standing dominance.

In Tamil Nadu, while several exit polls indicate that the DMK-led alliance may retain power, the emergence of actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam has added a new dimension to the electoral landscape. Some projections even suggest that the party could emerge as a major force, disrupting the traditional DMK-AIADMK binary.

Assam appears headed for political continuity, with most exit polls predicting a comfortable victory for the BJP. The party is projected to secure a decisive lead over the Congress, reinforcing its dominance in the state and potentially securing another term in power.

Kerala, meanwhile, is shaping up to be a closely fought contest. Exit polls give a slight edge to the Congress-led UDF, though projections vary, with some surveys still suggesting the possibility of the ruling Left Democratic Front retaining power. The outcome is seen as a crucial test of whether Kerala’s traditional pattern of alternating governments will reassert itself.

In Puducherry, the trend appears clearer, with exit polls indicating that the NDA, led locally by the AINRC-BJP alliance, is likely to retain power with a comfortable majority.

Overall, exit polls across states suggest a mixed political picture, with potential regime change in some regions and continuity in others, setting the stage for a closely watched counting day.

West Bengal: Exit polls suggest a hung assembly, with TMC and BJP locked in a close fight at around 145 seats each.
Tamil Nadu: Most polls project a DMK-led alliance return, though some indicate Vijay’s TVK could emerge as a strong disruptor or even largest party.
Assam: Exit polls point to a clear BJP victory, with the party likely to secure a comfortable majority over Congress.
Kerala: A tight contest is expected, with a slight edge to UDF, though projections vary and the outcome remains uncertain.
Puducherry: The NDA is projected to retain power comfortably, with a clear lead over the Congress-DMK alliance.

11:06 (IST) May 01

Election 2026 Live Updates: Security tightened at Netaji Indoor Stadium ahead of May 4 counting amid TMC protest over alleged irregularities

Security has been tightened outside the strong room at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata ahead of vote counting scheduled for May 4.

The move follows allegations by the Trinamool Congress that the Bharatiya Janata Party, in "active collusion" with the Election Commission of India, is attempting to open ballot boxes without the presence of authorised party representatives.

Senior TMC leaders, including West Bengal minister Shashi Panja and Kunal Ghosh, staged a sit-in protest outside the strong room, alleging that EVM and VVPAT units were being accessed without oversight from political parties.

Speaking to ANI, Ghosh alleged that some individuals were tampering with postal ballots inside the facility and said no TMC representatives were allowed entry, adding that the activity could be seen on CCTV footage.

"You can watch the livestreaming and CCTV camera of the Election Commission, where a few people are working inside. None of our representatives is inside...They are not letting us in. There is no transparency. They (BJP) are sending their people inside the strong room and tampering with the postal ballots...Shashi Panja and I are sitting on a protest...The party will take further action regarding this incident," he said.

11:04 (IST) May 01

Election 2026 Live Updates: 'TMC is certainly wiped out of West Bengal, Mamata is now ex-CM', says BJP MP Saumitra Khan

Leaders of the Trinamool Congress staged a sit-in protest on Thursday outside the strong room at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata, alleging irregularities related to EVMs ahead of vote counting.

Responding to the protest, Saumitra Khan of the Bharatiya Janata Party said the ruling party’s actions would continue until counting day and claimed voters had rejected the TMC.

"Ex-Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lost against Suvendu Adhikari, and TMC is certainly wiped out of West Bengal. The public did not vote for the TMC. You will see this drama for 2-3 days.

They (TMC) think they can capture EVM by hook or by crook, just like they did in 2021. But the public and EC will not accept this. They (TMC) will have to accept the mandate. Mamata Banerjee is now the ex-Chief Minister and Suvendu Adhikari has defeated her," Khan said.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal said EVM strong rooms were "safe and secure" and there was no "controversy" in response to TMC allegations of tampering.

The TMC alleged that the BJP, "in active collusion" with the Election Commission, "is opening ballot boxes without the presence of any relevant party stakeholders". Senior TMC leaders Shashi Panja and Kunal Ghosh began a protest outside the stadium.

"You can watch the livestreaming and CCTV camera of the Election Commission, where a few people are working inside. None of our representatives is inside...They are not letting us in. There is no transparency. They (BJP) are sending their people inside the strong room and tampering with the postal ballots. Shashi Panja and I are sitting on a protest. The party will take further action regarding this incident," Ghosh said.

Vote counting is scheduled for May 4.

With voting concluded across key states, exit polls have taken centre stage, offering early signals ahead of the final results on May 4. The projections suggest a mixed political landscape, with signs of both continuity and potential shifts in power across regions.

West Bengal remains the most closely watched contest, where polling in the final phase saw high voter participation and intense campaigning. Issues such as the revision of electoral rolls, identity politics and strong ground mobilisation shaped the election. Exit polls point to a neck-and-neck battle between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP, with several surveys indicating the possibility of a hung assembly. The projections reflect both the BJP’s expansion in the state and the TMC’s continued grassroots strength, making the outcome highly uncertain.

In Tamil Nadu, the contest appears less straightforward than in previous elections. While many exit polls suggest the DMK-led alliance could return to power, the entry of actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam has disrupted established political equations. Some projections indicate that the party could perform strongly enough to influence the final outcome, pointing to a potential realignment in the state’s political landscape.

Assam, by contrast, is expected to deliver a more decisive verdict. Exit polls consistently project a comfortable majority for the BJP, indicating political stability and a consolidation of support for the ruling party over the Congress.

Kerala presents a competitive scenario, with exit polls suggesting a marginal advantage for the Congress-led UDF, though the ruling LDF remains within striking distance. The contest is being seen as a test of whether the state will revert to its traditional pattern of alternating governments or continue with the Left’s extended tenure.

In Puducherry, the outlook appears relatively clear, with the NDA projected to retain power comfortably, aided by fragmented opposition votes and steady support for the incumbent leadership.