India Assembly Election 2021: LDF crosses majority mark in Kerala, BJP in Assam
After a high-octane election campaign in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the union territory of Puducherry, counting of votes has begun. Results for all four states and the UT are expected to pour in from 5pm
Counting of votes is underway in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the union territory (UT) Puducherry and early trends have started pouring in.
Mamata Banerjee looks set to win a third term in Bengal, the DMK is heading for victory in Tamil Nadu, the BJP is leading in Assam and the LDF in Kerala in the counting of votes for state polls. Health warning - these are very early leads.
The latest forecast from NDTV Election Desk showed that the Trinamool is poised to get 190+ seats in Bengal, 140+ for the DMK in Tamil Nadu, 90+ for the BJP in Assam and in Kerala, 90 for the Left.
BJP ahead in 17 seats, crosses majority mark in Puducherry; retains lead in Assam
BJP is ahead in 17 seats and has crossed the majority mark in the 30-member Puducherry assembly, according to early trends. The party has also retained its lead in Assam.
DMK supporters celebrate as trends show party leading in Tamil Nadu
Official trends show DMK leading in 141 seats in Tamil Nadu at 12.24 pm.
Puducherry Election 2021: BJP leads in 15 seats, Cong alliance in 8
In Puducherry, the BJP alliance was leading in 15 seats, one short of the majority mark, and the Congress alliance trailed with leads in 8 seats till 10.56 am.
TMC crosses majority mark in West Bengal, BJP in Assam
The TMC has crossed the majority mark in West Bengal with lead in 162 seats, while the BJP has crossed the mark in Assam with 71 seats. DMK is ahead in Tamil Nadu with lead in 131 seats, according to early trends at 10.55 am.
In West Bengal, Trinamool Congress (TMC) has taken lead while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) trails close behind. According to initial trends, BJP's Suvendhu Adhikari is leading from the hot seat of Nandigram, where he has locked horns with TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee. In Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan's Left Democratic Front (LDF) and in Assam, BJP have crossed the majority mark, according to early trends.
DMK leads in 128 seats, AIADMK in 71 in Tamil Nadu
In Tamil Nadu, DMK is leading in 128 seats while the ruling AIADMK is ahead in 71 seats till 10.39 am.
Kerala Election 2021: CPI(M) leading on 46 seats, Congress on 20
According to the ECI, CPI(M) is leading on 46 seats and Congress on 20 in Kerala.
The counting of votes is being conducted amid tight security in view of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and the results are expected to start rolling out after 5pm.
The high-octane election campaign in these states was followed by voting that was spread out over a month. West Bengal voted in eight phases, starting March 27 and ending on April 29, while Assam voted in three. Elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry were held in a single phase on April 6.
BJP in West Bengal is contesting to wrestle the power out of the hands of three-time chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Assam is seeing a contest between the ruling BJP and a grand alliance of eight opposition parties including Congress, the AIUDF and the Bodoland People's Front.
In Tamil Nadu, the incumbent All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has gone up against MK Stalin's Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) while the battle for Kerala prominently features LDF and the Congress-led UDF.
The alliance of All India NR Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is up against the Congress-led alliance in Puducherry.