Assembly Elections 2026 LIVE: TMC confident of Bengal win despite exit polls giving edge to BJP
Assembly Elections 2026 LIVE Updates: Exit polls have given a fractured mandate in West Bengal, while an edge to NDA in Assam and Puducherry. In Tamil Nadu, a DMK+ victory is predicted, while UDF will return to power in Kerala.
West Bengal is expected to witness a neck-and-neck contest in this year's assembly elections, as exit polls have given a fractured verdict, with many predicting an edge for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while some claiming Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress' return to power with a clear majority for a fourth consecutive term. The BJP, which campaigned extensively in Bengal, is hoping that it would be able to end Banerjee's rule who has been in power since 2011, with party leader Suvendu Adhikari predicting around 180 seats in the state.
The saffron party's return in Assam for a third straight term looks a guarantee, though, if the exit polls are to be believed. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the BJP will likely win around 85-95 seats in the 126-member Assam Legislative Assembly, while the Congress-led coalition's tally will likely get reduced to 25-32 seats, as per the exit polls.
In the south, there's a silver lining for the Congress in Kerala, though. According to the exit polls, Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) may win around 70 to 75 seats in the 140-member House, while the Left Democratic Front (LDF) may get 60-65 seats. The NDA, which was expecting to better its tally after its impressive performance in the 2024 parliamentary elections, is projected to win three to five seats.
In neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister MK Stalin-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led alliance will return to power for a second consecutive term, projected the exit polls. In the 234-member House, the DMK+ may win 122-132 seats, while the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led NDA may get around 87 to 100 seats. Actor-turned-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) may play a spoilsport and win 10 to 12 seats.
In the union territory (UT) of Puducherry, the NDA, which comprises the All India NR Congress and the BJP, is expected to return to power for a second straight term with 16 to 20 seats, while the INDIA bloc may get around six to eight seats. The TVK here may get around one to four seats, exit polls predicted.
Live updates : Assembly Elections 2026 LIVE Updates
-
11:14 AM (IST) April 30, 2026
Palaniswami’s family visits Thiruchendur Murugan Temple
AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami’s family members visited the Thiruchendur Murugan Temple earlier in the day. The AIADMK, as per exit poll projections, is unlikely to return to power in Tamil Nadu, and the DMK+ may win the 2026 assembly elections.
-
10:45 AM (IST) April 30, 2026
BJP leads in North Bengal, may give tough fight to TMC in South Bengal: Matrize Exit Poll
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may come to power for the first time in West Bengal with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) trailing close behind, says a Matrize Exit Poll projection, which was telecast on India TV this evening. The exit poll projection says the BJP may win 146 to 161 seats in a House of 294 members. The magic mark for scoring a majority is 148. Click here to read more.
-
10:25 AM (IST) April 30, 2026
TMC to win 200+ Seats in West Bengal: Party leader
TMC leader V Sivadasan Dasu has said that Mamata Banerjee's party will return to power in West Bengal, with over 200 wins, while he questioned the exit poll projections which claimed a BJP victory. He said the exit polls have historically failed to capture TMC's actual performance in West Bengal.
"Exit polls' calculations never match the reality in West Bengal. And as for the exit polls shown so far regarding the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal... In 2021, ABP News showed 152 for TMC, Chanakya showed 169, TV9 showed 142, and India Today showed 130. Various other channels also didn't show a majority for Trinamool Congress in '21," he said.
-
10:11 AM (IST) April 30, 2026
NDA govt is coming in Bengal: UP Minister
Uttar Pradesh Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar, whose Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) is a part of the NDA, has said that the BJP-led bloc will come to power in West Bengal once the election results are declared on May 4.
-
9:54 AM (IST) April 30, 2026
Exit Poll Results: BJP tipped to win Bengal, Assam; DMK ahead in TN, UDF in Kerala, predicts Matrize
The exit poll results on Wednesday predicted a clear victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal and Assam while giving a clear majority for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala in a tough fight with the Left Democratic Front (LDF). The exit polls also predicted a massive victory for the MK Stalin-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu, according to Matrize. Click here to read more.
-
9:39 AM (IST) April 30, 2026
BJP gaining advantage in Bengal: Party MP
BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal said on Thursday that the saffron party is gaining an advantage in West Bengal and Puducherry. He also said that the BJP will form the government in Assam once again, while it will make significant breakthrough in Kerala.
"Overall, if we analyse these trends, it can be clearly said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP has performed remarkably well in all five states. This also indicates that the people of the country have unwavering trust and confidence in his leadership," he said.
-
9:23 AM (IST) April 30, 2026
'NDA lotus blooming everywhere': BJP's Shehzad Poonawalla
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said that democracy has emerged stronger in the recent elections, claiming that polling was largely peaceful compared to earlier years in West Bengal. He said that in previous elections in West Bengal, violence was more common, but this time incidents were “negligible” and voting was conducted smoothly in most places.
-
9:00 AM (IST) April 30, 2026
A change in Bengal certain: BJP leader
BJP leader Ram Kripal Yadav said on Thursday that a change in West Bengal is certain, while predicting an NDA win in Assam. He said the BJP will form the government in West Bengal with a two-thirds majority, adding that people's mandate will be respected.
-
8:51 AM (IST) April 30, 2026
Puducherry goes to NDA?
Likewise, the NDA comprising the AINRC and the BJP will return to power for a second straight term, while the Congress-led alliance will continue to stay out of the power, as per exit poll projections.
-
8:51 AM (IST) April 30, 2026
NDA victory in Assam?
According to the exit poll projections, the BJP-led NDA will return to power in Assam for a third straight term with a bigger mandate. The Congress-led alliance's tally may get further reduced.
-
8:51 AM (IST) April 30, 2026
Tamil Nadu likely to be retained by DMK+?
If the exit polls are to be believed, then Tamil Nadu will likely be retained by the DMK+ alliance comfortably. However, the AIADMK+ may improve its tally, while the TVK may play a spoilsport.
-
8:50 AM (IST) April 30, 2026
Fractured mandate in West Bengal?
West Bengal saw an extensive campaign by the BJP which is looking to end TMC-s 15-year rule in the state. As per several exit polls, the BJP is likely to form a government in Bengal for the first time in this year's exit polls. However, many have still given an edge to the TMC.
-
8:50 AM (IST) April 30, 2026
Cliffhanger in Bengal, NDA wins in Assam and Puducherry; DMK retains TN, Kerala goes to UDF
In West Bengal, exit polls have given a fractured mandate, with some giving edge to the BJP, while some to the TMC. In Assam, however, the exit polls predicted an NDA win with a bigger mandate. Tamil Nadu and Kerala are likely to go with the DMK+ and the UDF, while Puducherry may be retained by the NDA, exit polls predicted.