BJP Surges in West Bengal, TVK Emerges as Single Largest Party in Tamil Nadu

Key facts

• BJP leads in 201 seats in West Bengal, crossing the half-mark of 147.
• TVK leads in over 100 seats in Tamil Nadu, becoming the single largest party.
• UDF leads in nearly 100 seats in Kerala, poised to return to power.
• DMK slips to third place in Tamil Nadu with leads in over 50 seats.
• BJP has won 11 seats in Assam and leads in 77 more.
• NDA crosses majority mark in Puducherry.
• Congress's Adhir Ranjan trails from Bahrampur in Bengal.
• TVK's VS Babu leads against MK Stalin in Kolathur.

BJP Surges Past Half-Mark in West Bengal

The Bharatiya Janata Party has surged past the majority mark in West Bengal, leading in 201 seats out of 294, according to early counting trends. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress is leading in over 85 seats, a dramatic reversal from the 2021 election where the TMC won 213 seats. The election in Bengal was closely watched, as the state has long resisted the BJP's advance. Banerjee had waged a vocal campaign against the Election Commission over the voter roll clean-up exercise, Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which removed 89 lakh voters—roughly 11.6 per cent of the electorate. That figure slightly exceeds the TMC's winning margin in 2021. In Kolkata, the BJP is ahead in five of the 11 seats, including Maniktala and Rashbehari. Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien had dared the BJP to win any seat in Kolkata or South 24 Parganas, promising that one MP would shave their head for each constituency won. As of 5 pm on Monday, the BJP had leads in some seats in South 24 Parganas as well.

TVK Overtakes DMK and AIADMK in Tamil Nadu

Actor-turned-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has emerged as the single largest party in Tamil Nadu, leading in over 100 seats. The AIADMK-led alliance is in second place with leads in over 71 seats, while the ruling DMK, in alliance with Congress and DMDK, has slipped to third with leads in over 50 seats. In a significant blow to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, TVK's V.S. Babu is leading against him in the Kolathur constituency. The DMK had held the seat since 2011. So far, 10 TVK candidates have been declared winners across the state, while Congress has won one seat. The results mark a seismic shift in Tamil Nadu politics, where the DMK and AIADMK have alternated power for decades. Vijay's entry as a political force has upended the traditional two-party system.

UDF Poised to Return to Power in Kerala

The United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Congress, is leading in nearly 100 seats in Kerala, putting it on track to form the next government. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi thanked the people of Kerala for a 'truly decisive mandate' in a post on social media platform X. Gandhi congratulated UDF leaders and workers for a 'hard-fought, well-run campaign,' adding that 'Keralam has the talent, Keralam has the potential and now Keralam has a UDF government with a vision to harness both.' The UDF's strong performance comes after five years of Left Democratic Front rule under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

BJP Dominates in Assam and Puducherry

In Assam, the BJP has already won 11 seats and is leading in 77 more, consolidating its hold on the state. In Puducherry, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has crossed the majority mark, ensuring a comfortable victory. Notably, Congress's Gaurav Gogoi has lost to BJP's Hitendra Nath Goswami in Jorhat by 23,182 votes. Gogoi had been a prominent opposition figure in the state. The BJP's performance in Assam and Puducherry reinforces its national footprint.

Counting Halted in Bengal's Bhabanipur After 13 Rounds

Counting was halted in Bengal's Bhabanipur constituency after 13 rounds, according to reports. Mamata Banerjee, who contested from Bhabanipur, continues to lead. The delay has raised questions, though no official explanation has been provided. In Bengal's Nandigram, a key seat, BJP's Suvendu Adhikari is holding a slim lead over TMC's Pabitra Kar. Adhikari, a former TMC heavyweight who crossed over to the BJP, had defeated Banerjee in Nandigram in 2021. The outcome there is seen as a bellwether for the state's political realignment.

National Implications of the 2026 Assembly Results

The assembly elections in five states and one union territory carry significant national implications. The BJP's strong showing in West Bengal, a state it has long coveted, signals a potential expansion of its electoral map. In Tamil Nadu, the rise of TVK introduces a new political force that could reshape alliances ahead of the 2029 general election. The results also underscore the Congress's mixed fortunes: a likely victory in Kerala but a loss in Assam and a diminished role in Tamil Nadu. The UDF's win in Kerala provides a much-needed boost for the Congress, which has struggled to maintain relevance in other states.

Open Questions and Next Steps

As counting continues, several questions remain. Will the BJP's lead in West Bengal translate into a full majority, and what will be the margin? Can the DMK recover from its third-place finish in Tamil Nadu, or will TVK form a government with AIADMK support? In Bengal, the final tally will determine whether Mamata Banerjee can retain power or if the BJP will form its first government in the state. The Election Commission is expected to release final results in the coming hours. The outcomes will set the stage for the next phase of Indian politics, with implications for the 2027 presidential election and the 2029 general election.

The bottom line

• BJP leads in 201 seats in West Bengal, poised to form government for the first time in the state.
• TVK emerges as single largest party in Tamil Nadu, ending DMK-AIADMK duopoly.
• UDF leads in nearly 100 seats in Kerala, set to return to power.
• BJP dominates Assam and Puducherry, strengthening its national footprint.
• DMK slips to third place in Tamil Nadu; MK Stalin loses his Kolathur stronghold.
• Counting halted in Bengal's Bhabanipur; Mamata Banerjee leads but final result awaited.