Assembly election result 2026: Date and time of result for Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Puducherry, exit poll predictions, where and how to watch and other details | India News
New Delhi: The stage is set for the declaration of Assembly Elections 2026 results across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry and the counting of votes will begin at 8 am on May 4. The results will determine the fate of 824 assembly seats and determine the political direction in five assemblies.The Election Commission said the counting will be done simultaneously in all the constituencies with the initial trend expected in the first one to two hours. Early trends are likely to emerge by morning, while final results are expected by evening Voters can track real-time updates on the ECI website and timesofinfdia.com.Follow full coverage of the election here: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/assembly-electionsVoting for these elections was held in April, with Assam, Kerala and Puducherry voting in two phases on April 9, Tamil Nadu on April 23 and West Bengal on April 23 and April 29. West Bengal recorded the highest voter turnout, crossing 92 percent across the stage, while Assam saw a record 85.38 percent participation. 84.69 percent voting in Tamil Nadu, 79.63 percent in Kerala and 89.87 percent in Puducherry.
How votes are counted
The calculation process follows a structured and tightly monitored system. Postal ballots are taken first, then votes are recorded in electronic voting machines. Counting is done in multiple rounds for each constituency, with results updated after each round. The Returning Officers declare the final result after completing and verifying all the rounds.Security at the counting center is tight, with strong room guards and access restricted to authorized personnel and candidates’ representatives. The use of EVMs ensures speedy tabulation, although the verification process and round-wise counting means the process continues throughout the day.
Exit Polls, Polls of Polls: What is Projection?
Exit polls for the 2026 assembly elections indicate a fragmented and state-specific verdict across Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry, with no single national trend emerging.In West Bengal, most surveys point to a neck-and-neck contest between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP, raising the possibility of a hung assembly. A survey of polls put both parties close to the halfway mark in the 294-member House, suggesting even a small vote swing could determine the winner. With some agencies like P-MARQ leading the BJP with 150-175 seats, others like Matriz show a tight contest, with both parties within striking distance. Tamil Nadu presented a more complex picture. While several exit polls predict the DMK-led alliance under MK Stalin to retain power with a comfortable majority, others highlight the disruptive entry of the Tamilga Vetri Kazhagam led by Vijay. Axis My India projects TVK as a possible front-runner with 98-120 seats, even preferring Vijay over Stalin for the chief ministership, although other pollsters limit TVK to a smaller number and still acknowledge his ability to influence the results. In Assam, the projections are more decisive, with exit polls largely predicting a BJP win Most surveys estimate the party to win 85 to 100 seats in the 126-member assembly, comfortably ahead of the Congress, which is expected to be close to the 25-35 seat margin. Kerala is expected to witness a neck-and-neck contest, as predicted by exit polls. Polls give a slight edge to the Congress-led United Democratic Front, with estimates of around 70-75 seats, while the Left Democratic Front is expected to get around 60-65 seats. However, different estimates from different organizations underline the uncertainty, with some even predicting a narrow LDF victory. In Puducherry, exit polls indicated a clear result, with the NDA projected to retain power in the 30-member assembly. Most estimates place the alliance between 16-20 seats, while the Congress-DMK alliance is expected to trail with 6-8 seats. Smaller players including TVK could win a handful of seats. Overall, exit polls point to a mix of continuity and disruption, with stiff competition in key states and the potential for new political forces to change established equations.
