In West Bengal, chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress are aiming for a fourth consecutive term, while the BJP has mounted an aggressive challenge to unseat the incumbent. The contest has been marked by controversies such as the Special Intensive Revision and intense ground-level mobilisation, making the outcome particularly significant.
Tamil Nadu presents a three-cornered dynamic, with the ruling DMK seeking to retain power and the AIADMK attempting a comeback. The spotlight is also on actor-politician Vijay’s entry through TVK, which could disrupt the state’s traditional Dravidian political framework. The results here will indicate whether new players can alter long-standing voting patterns.
In Assam, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is looking to secure a third straight term, while the Congress is hoping for a resurgence. The campaign witnessed sharp exchanges, including controversies raised by the Congress over chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s family. Results across 126 constituencies will determine whether incumbency holds or shifts.
Kerala’s election outcome will test its well-known alternating pattern between the Left Democratic Front and the United Democratic Front. While the LDF seeks to retain power, the UDF aims for a comeback, and the BJP-led NDA is trying to expand its presence in the state’s 140 constituencies.
In Puducherry, the focus is on whether the NDA government led by the All India NR Congress can return to power. A key contest is in Thattanchavady, where chief minister N. Rangasamy faces a strong challenge.
Overall, the results will reveal whether established political trends continue or give way to new shifts across these regions.
What exit polls predicted
West Bengal may be heading towards a “poriborton” moment, with exit polls indicating a possible hung Assembly that could bring an end to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s 15-year tenure. Most projections suggest a tight contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, with little separating the two.
In Tamil Nadu, a potential disruption could come from actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, which one pollster projects as emerging the single largest party, challenging the long-standing DMK-AIADMK duopoly. However, most other exit polls continue to place the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-Congress alliance in a stronger position.
Exit polls indicate a closely fought Bengal contest, where even marginal shifts could determine whether BJP or TMC takes the lead.
In Assam, projections point towards the BJP securing a third straight term, maintaining a clear advantage over the Indian National Congress, which has struggled to regain ground in the state.
In Kerala, the CPM-led Left Democratic Front is projected to face a setback, which could mark the end of the only Left-led government currently in office in the country. In Puducherry, the ruling NDA appears positioned to return to power, with exit polls suggesting a comfortable lead over the Congress-DMK alliance. Taken together, the exit polls present a fragmented picture, where incumbency, emerging challengers and new political entrants are all in play, and outcomes may hinge on narrow margins if these projections hold.
Key constituencies to watch out for
Key constituencies include Bhowanipore, Nandigram, Noapara, Tollygunge and Rashbehari in West Bengal, where chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari are among the prominent contenders; Jalukbari, Jorhat, Nazira, Barchalla and Golaghat in Assam, involving Himanta Biswa Sarma and other key leaders; Kolathur, Chepauk, Tiruchirappalli East, Perambur and Edappadi in Tamil Nadu, where chief minister MK Stalin and Vijay are contesting; Nemom, Thrissur, Vattiyoorkavu, Puthuppally and Konni in Kerala; and Thattanchavady, Mannadipet, Raj Bhavan, Lawspet and Mahe in Puducherry, where high-profile contests could shape the overall outcome.
