Assembly Election Results 2026 Updates: Counting of votes for the Assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and the Union Territory of Puducherry commenced at 8 AM on Monday, with postal ballots being taken up first, followed by Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
- How the Counting Process Works
- Polling Schedule: When Did Each State Vote?
- Early Trends: State by State
- West Bengal (294 Seats)
- Tamil Nadu (234 Seats)
- Kerala (140 Seats)
- Assam (126 Seats)
- Puducherry (30 Seats)
- Security and Transparency Measures on Counting Day
- The SIR Controversy
- Where to Check Official Election Results 2026
- What Is at Stake?
- Assembly Election Results 2026
- 1. When is the counting of votes for the 2026 Assembly Elections?
- 2. Which states and union territories are part of the 2026 Assembly Elections?
- 3. How many total seats are being decided in these elections?
- 4. When did each state go to polls?
- 5. How does the counting process work?
- 6. When can we expect early trends?
- 7. Where can I check the official election results?
- 8. Why are these elections so important?
In the 2026 state elections, voters elected 824 legislators across five legislative assemblies: 126 seats in Assam, 140 seats in Kerala, 234 seats in Tamil Nadu, 294 seats in West Bengal, and 30 elected seats in Puducherry.
The 2026 state elections in India are important because they serve as a key political test for both national and regional parties ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2029.
How the Counting Process Works
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is conducting a structured and transparent vote count today. The process commenced with the counting of postal ballots at 8:00 AM, followed by EVM counting from 8:30 AM.
The Election Commission follows a structured counting process: Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are opened under strict security, postal ballots are counted first, round-wise counting begins for each constituency, trends are updated regularly during counting, and final results are declared after all rounds are completed.
Round-wise results are being updated in real time on the ECINET platform and the official Election Commission portal, including results.eci.gov.in.
Initial trends are expected to emerge within the first few hours of counting, likely by mid-morning. As multiple rounds of counting progress, clearer leads and outcomes will become visible. Final results for most constituencies are expected by afternoon or evening on the same day.
Polling Schedule: When Did Each State Vote?
Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry voted on April 9, while Tamil Nadu went to polls on April 23. West Bengal voting was held in two phases on April 23 and April 29.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) had announced the schedule for the General Election to Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal on March 15, 2026.
Voter participation this cycle was notably high. Assam and Puducherry surpassed their highest-ever poll participation by recording 85.38% and 89.83% respectively. Previously, the highest poll participation in Assam was 84.67% recorded in 2016, and in Puducherry it was 86.19% recorded in 2011. Voter turnout was also high in Kerala at 78.03 per cent.
Early Trends: State by State
West Bengal (294 Seats)
Counting of votes for the high-stakes Assembly elections in West Bengal began at 8 AM on Monday, with the verdict set to decide whether the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC returns to power for a fourth consecutive term or the BJP scripts history by forming its first government in the state. The counting is being held for 293 of 294 Assembly segments in 77 centres across 23 districts of the state under a multi-layered security cordon, deciding the fate of 2,926 candidates.
The Election Commission of India has directed fresh polling in all 285 booths of West Bengal’s Falta constituency on May 21 after reports of disruption. Counting for this seat will be held separately on May 24.
More than 2.5 lakh personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), along with state police, have been deployed at 77 counting centres across 23 districts under a multi-layered security grid.
Tamil Nadu (234 Seats)
According to early figures released by the Election Commission, Tamil Nadu is witnessing a nail-biting contest, with the AIADMK-led alliance and Vijay’s TVK locked in a close race.
New entrant TVK, led by actor-politician Vijay, was leading in as many as 83 constituencies on May 4 as counting of votes polled in the April 23 Assembly elections progressed across Tamil Nadu.
According to the official voter turnout report, a total of 48,798,833 votes were cast in 234 constituencies. Demographic analysis shows that 25,259,596 female voters cast their votes, far outnumbering the 23,534,720 male voters.
Kerala (140 Seats)
Early Election Commission trends from Kerala show the United Democratic Front (UDF) surging ahead with 86 seats. The Indian National Congress leads the alliance with 55 seats, followed by the Indian Union Muslim League with 20, while other allies add smaller numbers. The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) is trailing at 46 seats, with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) ahead in 30 and the Communist Party of India in 11. The NDA is a distant third, with the Bharatiya Janata Party leading in 3 seats.
In Kerala, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) was pitted against the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan sought to break the state’s five-year rotational power tradition. Vijayan had returned to power for a second term in 2021.
Assam (126 Seats)
In Assam, the BJP-led alliance is maintaining a strong position across most of the 126 seats. Assam went to the polls in a single phase, ensuring a streamlined voting process across constituencies.
Puducherry (30 Seats)
Puducherry is one of three of India’s eight union territories that have legislative assemblies. Politics in Puducherry have traditionally been shaped by alliances between national and regional parties. Polls were held in a single phase on April 9, with a record voter turnout of approximately 90 percent.
Security and Transparency Measures on Counting Day
The Election Commission has implemented a three-tier security system and introduced QR code-based identity verification for the first time, ensuring that only authorised personnel can access sensitive areas.
Record voter turnout, heightened security, and technological measures such as live webcasting and QR-based access systems reflect an evolving and increasingly transparent electoral process.
Despite various allegations raised ahead of counting day, election officials have reiterated that counting will be conducted in a free and fair manner.
The SIR Controversy
One of the most talked-about issues before this election was the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The SIR was an exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India in advance of polls in 2026 in the states of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
The SIR required all voters in poll-bound states to resubmit their particulars in order to be included in the electoral rolls, attracting criticism from opposition parties who argued that minority voters were being deliberately disenfranchised. In West Bengal alone, more than 9 million voters were excluded from the revised electoral rolls.
Where to Check Official Election Results 2026
Voters can track real-time and official updates through the Election Commission of India’s official website.
For those preferring mobile access, the Voter Helpline App, available on both Android and iOS platforms, serves as a convenient alternative. After downloading the app, users can filter results by state or constituency and get real-time updates on candidates’ performance, including who is leading, trailing, or has secured victory.
Exit polls are speculative and should not be confused with official results. Only results declared by the Election Commission are considered final and valid.
What Is at Stake?
The results will determine government formation across five key regions and will also shape the political landscape and policy direction for the next five years.
As counting continues, all eyes are on whether incumbents will retain power or if voters have opted for change. The outcomes in all five regions will not only reshape their respective state governments but will also send a strong political message at the national level ahead of the 2029 general elections.
Assembly Election Results 2026
1. When is the counting of votes for the 2026 Assembly Elections?
The Assembly Election Results 2026 are being declared on May 4, 2026 (Monday), as scheduled by the ECI . Counting began at 8:00 AM simultaneously across all five regions.
2. Which states and union territories are part of the 2026 Assembly Elections?
The elections cover four states and one Union Territory: Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry. These regions collectively represent eastern, southern, and north-eastern India, making the elections politically significant at a national level.
3. How many total seats are being decided in these elections?
A total of 824 legislative seats are being contested. This includes 126 in Assam, 140 in Kerala, 234 in Tamil Nadu, 294 in West Bengal, and 30 elected seats in Puducherry.
4. When did each state go to polls?
Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry voted on April 9. Tamil Nadu went to polls on April 23. West Bengal conducted voting in two phases on April 23 and April 29.
5. How does the counting process work?
The counting process follows a fixed structure. Postal ballots are counted first starting at 8:00 AM. Electronic Voting Machine counting begins at 8:30 AM. Counting proceeds round by round for each constituency under strict supervision, with continuous trend updates until final results are declared.
6. When can we expect early trends?
Initial trends typically appear within one to two hours after counting begins. Clear leads and majority patterns usually emerge by late morning, and most results are expected by evening.
7. Where can I check the official election results?
Official and real-time results are available on the ECI website at results.eci.gov.in. Updates are also accessible via the Voter Helpline App on Android and iOS.
8. Why are these elections so important?
These elections act as a major political test ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. They indicate the strength and direction of both national and regional parties, and will shape political momentum over the next few years.
