Exit Poll Results 2026 LIVE Updates: Who has the edge in Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, Puducherry?

TMC candidate from Bhabanipur and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee says, "As per the information we have, BJP is losing in Bengal. We are going to form our government with a 2/3rd majority."

The exit polls are conducted to predict the results of an assembly or parliamentary election. The exit polls are conducted after the voters exercise their franchise. Unlike the opinion polls, exit polls are post-election surveys. For exit polls, various media outlets ask voters from various age groups, genders, castes, and geographical areas who they supported. Note: Exit poll predictions have often gone wrong.

Puducherry Hot Seats:

1. Thattanchavady
N. Rangasamy (AINRC) vs V Vaithilingam (Congress) vs E Vinayagam (NMK)

2. Mangalam 
N Rangasamy (AINRC) vs SS Rangan (DMK) vs K Ragubady (Congress)

3. Mannadipet
A Namassivayam (BJP) vs TPR Selvame (Congress) vs K Bharathithasan (TVK)

4. Raj Bhavan
VP Ramalingame (BJP) vs R Kumaran (Congress) vs Vignesh Kannan (DMK)

5. Lawspet
VP Sivakolundhu (AINRC) vs M Vaithianathan (Congress) vs V Saminathan (TVK)

6. Yanam
Malladi Krishna Rao (AINRC) vs Gollapalli Srinivas Ashok (Congress) vs Thota Raju (TVK

The West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 are witnessing several important contests, including Bhabanipur, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (TMC) is seeking re-election against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. Other important candidates include Nisith Pramanik (BJP) from Mathabhanga, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Congress) from Baharampur, Dilip Ghosh (BJP) from Kharagpur Sadar, Humayun Kabir (JUP) from Rejinagar, Swapan Dasgupta (BJP) from Rashbehari, Tapas Roy (BJP) from Maniktala, Aroop Biswas (TMC) from Tollygunge, Bratyabrata Basu (TMC) from Dum Dum, Arjun Singh (BJP) from Noapara, Papiya Dey Adhikari (BJP) from Tollygunge, Ratna Debnath (BJP) from Panihati, Firhad Hakim (TMC) from Kolkata Port, Madan Mitra (TMC) from Kamarhati, Kunal Kumar Ghosh (TMC) from Beleghata, Manas Ranjan Bhunia (TMC) from Sabang, Goutam Deb (TMC) from Siliguri, Mausam Noor (Congress) from Malatipur, Agnimitra Paul (BJP) from Asansol Dakshin, Shankar Ghosh (BJP) from Siliguri, Udayan Guha (TMC) from Dinhata, and Roopa Ganguly (BJP) from Sonarpur Dakshin, among others. Suvendu Adhikari is again contesting from Nandigram.

Quite often, the polling agencies project different projections because they do not follow identical methodologies and select different polling stations, use different sample sizes, or even frame questions differently during voter interviews. Apart from this, the pollsters vary in how they treat non-responses and how aggressively they apply weighting formulas. Even the vote-to-seat conversion models differ, which leads to noticeably different predictions despite using similar raw data environments.

The West Bengal election results could depend on multiple factors such as Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls and the BJP’s infiltration narrative, alongside the decisive role of women voters and welfare-driven support for the TMC. Apart from this, the split of minority votes and any gains by the Left-Congress alliance could further influence the final outcome in West Bengal.

The Kerala Assembly Elections 2026 are witnessing several important contests, including Dharmadom, where Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan (CPM) is seeking re-election against the Congress candidate Abdul Rasheed and the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) K Ranjith. In Paravur, VD Satheesan (Congress) faces a challenge from CPI's ET Taison and Vathsala Prasanna Kumar of the BJP. Other important candidates include Rajeev Chandrasekhar (BJP) from Nemom, K Surendran (BJP), Sobha Surendran (BJP), KK Shailaja (CPM) from Peravoor, Padmaja Venugopal (BJP) from Thrissur, Ramesh Chennithala (Congress) from Haripad, Chandy Oommen (Congress) from Puthuppally, George Kurian (BJP) from Kanjirappally, PC George (BJP) from Poonjar, K. Muraleedharan (Congress) from Vattiyoorkavu, and others.

The Election Commission does not allow exit polls to be published before voting ends across all phases is completed, to prevent influencing voters in multi-phase elections. The curb is enforced under Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which bans conducting, publishing, or broadcasting exit polls during the notified period. The restriction from the EC is aimed at ensuring fairness, as early trends could impact voter behaviour before everyone has cast their vote.

As per the ECI notification, exit poll results can only be released after 6:30 pm. The EC said that the conduct and dissemination of exit polls is prohibited between 7:00 AM on April 9, 2026, and 6:30 PM on April 29, 2026.

According to Election Commission, Puducherry recorded the highest turnout of 89.20 per cent among the regions. Voting concluded for crucial polls in Puducherry with the voters coming out in large numbers to exercise their franchise.

2021 Results in Kerala:

Total Seats: 140
Congress: 21
IUML: 15
KC: 2
KCJ: 1
RMPI: 1
Independents: 1
UDF: 4

2021 Results in Kerala:

Total Seats: 140
CPI-M: 62
CPI: 17
KCM: 5
JDS: 2
NCP: 2
INL: 1
LJD: 1
NSC: 1
JKC: 1
NSC: 1
Congress (Secular): 1
Independents: 5
LDF: 99

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Kerala includes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) and Twenty20 Party (TTP) of Sabu M Jacob, and others.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala includes the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (CPI), Kerala Congress (Mani), Nationalist Congress Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Indian Socialist Janata Dal (ISJD), Kerala Congress (B), Indian National League (INL), Congress (Secular), Revolutionary Socialist Party (Leninist), and others.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala includes the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the Kerala Congress of PJ Joseph, the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), the Kerala Congress (Jacob), the Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMPI), the Communist Marxist Party (CMP), and others.

The Assam Assembly Elections 2026 are witnessing several high-profile VIP contests, including Jalukbari, where Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma (BJP) is seeking re-election against the Congress candidate Bidisha Neog. In Jorhat, Gaurav Gogoi (Congress) faces a challenge from BJP's Hitendra Nath Goswami. Other important candidates include Akhil Gogoi (Raijor Dal) from Sibsagar, Debabrata Saikia (Congress) from Nazira, Pradyut Bordoloi (BJP) from Dispur, Ripun Bora (Congress) from Barchalla, Rajen Gohain (AJP) from Barhampur, Keshab Mahanta (AGP) from Kaliabor, Biswajit Daimary (BJP) from Tamulpur, Badruddin Ajmal (AIUDF) from Binnakandi, Nandita Garlosa (Congress) from Haflong, Atul Bora (AGP) from Bokakhat, and Pramod Boro (UPPL) from Tamulpur, among others.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Assam includes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), and the Bodoland People's Front (BPF). The Congress-led Asom Sonmilito Morcha includes the Congress, the Raijor Dal (RD), the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), the All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC), and the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation.

2021 Results in Assam:
Total Seats: 126
BJP: 60
AGP: 9
UPPL: 6
NDA: 75

Mahajot:
Congress: 29
AIUDF: 16
BPF: 4
CPI-M: 1
Total: 50

Overall polling till 3 pm stands at 78.68% and with 83.11%, East Burdwan district registered the highest turnout of voters till 3 pm in the second phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal. On the other hand, Kolkata South witnessed the lowest turnout with 75.38%.

The ruling TMC in 2021 had won 123 of these 142 seats, leaving just 18 for the BJP and one for the ISF. For the BJP, breaching this southern fortress remains critical if it hopes to mount a serious challenge for power in the state.

West Bengal recorded a high voter turnout of over 78.86% till 3 PM in the second and final phase of the 2026 Assembly elections. In the first phase, West Bengal registered 91.78%. The high voter turnout was recorded on Wednesday amid attacks on a few candidates, while tension gripped the Bhabanipur seat briefly as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and BJP's Suvendu Adhikari took swipes at one another in the same booth area.

Tamil Nadu recorded a voter turnout of 84.69 per cent in its single-phase Assembly election, according to Election Commission. The high voter turnout intensified interest around the exit poll projections, with both the DMK and AIADMK alliances expressing confidence over their performance.

In Tamil Nadu, the high-stakes battle is between the ruling DMK led by Chief Minister MK Stalin and the AIADMK-led alliance. At the same time, actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam has added a new variable to the contest.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026 feature several high-profile "VIP" battles, including Kolathur, where Chief Minister MK Stalin (DMK) is seeking re-election against the AIADMK's P Santhana Krishnan. In Edappadi, Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami (AIADMK) faces a challenge from DMK's C Kasi in his home turf. Other important candidates include Vijay (TVk) from Tiruchirappalli (East) and Perambur, Udhayanidhi Stalin (DMK) from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni, V Senthil Balaji (DMK) from Coimbatore South, Nainar Nagendran (BJP) from Sattur, Tamilisai Soundararajan (BJP) from Mylapore, Vanathi Srinivasan (BJP) from Coimbatore North, Premalatha Vijayakhanth (DMDK) from Virudhachalam, L Murugan (BJP) from Avanashi, Durai Murugan (DMK) from Katpadi, Dr Sowmiya Anbumani (PMK) from Dharmapuri, KA Sengottaiyan (TVK) from Gobichettipalayam, D Jayakumar (AIADMK) from Royapuram, Seeman (NTK) from Karaikudi, Vijay Prabhakaran (DMDK) from Virudhunagar, O Panneerselvam (DMK) from Bodinayakkanur and SP Velumani (AIADMK) from Thondamuthur among others.

Actor Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) made its electoral debut by contesting all 234 seats solo. Vijay is in the fray from two constituencies, Perambur and Tiruchirappalli (East). Led by Seeman, the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) continues its tradition of contesting all seats independently on a platform of Tamil nationalism.

The main contest in West Bengal is between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Congress and the Left alliance are also in the fray, but analysts have mainly dubbed the elections as a contest between the BJP and the TMC.

The DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu includes the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Congress, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), and others.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tamil Nadu includes the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), the Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam (AMMK), the Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK), the South Indian Forward Bloc (SIFB), the Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar), the Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi (IJK), the Puratchi Bharatham Katchi (PBK), and the Puthiya Needhi Katchi (PNK).

2021 Results in Tamil Nadu:

Total Seats: 234 

SPA:

DMK: 133
Congress: 18
VCK: 4
CPM: 2
CPI: 2

Total: 159

The voting for the assembly elections in Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry was held in a single phase on April 9 and Tamil Nadu also voted in a single phase on April 23. In West Bengal, the polling is being held in two phases – the first phase was conducted on April 23, and the second phase is underway on Wednesday.

The exit poll results for assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and the Union Territory (UT) of Puducherry will be declared on Wednesday (April 29) after the second and last phase of polling in West Bengal concludes.