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.