What is the story about?
It’s D-Day for West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. Early trends have started coming in. Today’s election (May 4) will determine Mamata Banerjee’s fourth-term bid, measure Vijay’s debut impact and show whether the BJP and the Left can hold their grounds in Assam and Kerala.
If the exit polls are accurate, the BJP could retain Assam for a third straight term. Meanwhile, in West Bengal, the exit polls swung in the favour of the BJP rather than Mamata’s Trinamool Congress. In Tamil Nadu, most projections favour the return of MK Stalin’s DMK, though Vijay’s TVK is expected to influence the outcome. Exit polls in Puducherry suggest a comfortable win for the AINRC-led NDA.
But how are the big leaders faring so far? How is Mamata faring from Bhabhanipur? What about MK Stalin?
West Bengal Assembly elections are the most keenly watched polls. Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress are fighting to retain power against an aggressive BJP campaign.
Mamata Banerjee
In the high-stakes contest, the Bhabhanipur constituency is the most crucial. West Bengal CM and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee is contesting the polls from here. As of now, Mamata is leading in the polls with her closest rival being BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari.
For the unaware, the Bhabhanipur seat is Mamata’s political base, the seat she chose to contest in 2021 after losing Nandigram to remain chief minister.
Suvendu Adhikari
BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari is trailing from the Bhabhanipur constituency as of now. By fielding Suvendu, the BJP hopes to beat Mamata on her home turf. In the 2021 Assembly elections, it was Suvendu who had beaten Mamata from the Nandigram constituency.
Kunal Ghosh
Among the closely watched seats is Beleghata, a key constituency in Kolkata that will play its part in shaping the state’s political future. The TMC’s Kunal Ghosh is trailing from the seat. He faces a multi-cornered contest against BJP’s Partha Chaudhury, CPI(M)’s Paramita Roy and Congress candidate Shahina Javed.
Firhad Hakim
A close aide of Mamata Banerjee, Firhad Hakim is leading from the Kolkata Port constituency. He is facing off against Rakesh Singh. Hakim has won the seat in three consecutive elections and remains the party’s strongest face in this constituency.
In the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, Firhad Hakim defeated BJP’s Awadh Kishore Gupta by a large margin of 68,554 votes.
Will Vijay be the deciding factor in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections? Vijay’s entry has made him the X-factor, with his youth appeal and fan base drawing attention.
Vijay
Actor-politician Vijay is leading in Perambur but trailing in Tiruchirappalli East on counting day. Perambur has been traditionally a DMK bastion; in 2021, DMK’s RD Sekar won comfortably with 52.53 per cent of the vote.
Vijay’s decision to fight from two non-safe constituencies underlines an aggressive strategy aimed at testing his appeal against the ruling party across regions.
MK Stalin
DMK chief and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin is trailing from the Kolathur constituency. The seat, represented by Stalin, has long been a DMK stronghold.
Stalin has won this seat thrice since its formation in 2011 after delimitation. In 2011, he beat AIADMK’s Saidai Duraisamy, with a narrow margin of under 3,000 votes. In 2016, Stalin managed to bag this seat comfortably with a margin of over 37,000 votes. And in 2021, Stalin continued his winning streak, and this time the margin of votes was more than 80,000.
Edappadi Palaniswami
Former Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami is leading from the Edappadi constituency. It is his hometown and stronghold.
For Palaniswami, a win from Edapaddi will reaffirm his authority within the AIADMK and present himself as the principal challenger to the DMK.
In Assam, the BJP is hoping to achieve a hat-trick. The question is — can the Congress led by Gaurav Gogoi put a stop to the BJP?
Himata Biswa Sarma
The BJP’s Himanta Biswa Sarma is leading from the Jalukbari constituency. The Assam CM is currently leading against Bidisha Neog of the Congress as officials continue the counting process under tight security.
Sarma has won five straight elections from Jalukbari since 2001, showcasing strong voter support.
Gaurav Gogoi
The Congress’s Gaurav Gogoi is leading from the Jorhat constituency. The Congress leader is up against BJP’s Hitendra Nath Goswami, who has on and off represented the seat for more than 20 years.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, Goswami retained the seat, defeating Congress’s Rana Goswami by a margin of 6,488 votes. This was a tighter contest compared to 2016, when Goswami won by over 13,000 votes.
Akhil Gogoi
Firebrand activist-turned-politician Akhil Gogoi, president of the Raijor Dal, is leading from the Sibsagar seat. He’s up against Kushal Dowari from the BJP, Tapan Gogoi from the AAP, and Prodip Hazarika representing the AGP.
In the southern state, Pinarayi Vijayan is seeking to retain power for the LDF against the Congress-led UDF.
Pinarayi Vijayan
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is once again contesting from the Dharmadam constituency and is currently leading there.
The CM has remained undefeated in the past two elections from the same constituency. In the 2021 Assembly elections, Vijayan defeated C Raghunathan of Congress by a margin of 50,123 votes. Meanwhile, in the 2016 Assembly elections, Vijayan defeated Mambaram Divakaran of the Congress by a majority of 50, 424 votes. The Congress has fielded VP Abdul Rasheed as their candidate to fight Vijayan.
KK Shailaja
KK Shailaja, the former Kerala health minister, is trailing from the Peravoor seat. In the earlier polls, she represented Mattannur.
However, the Peravoor constituency is not new to Shailaja. She has described the seat as her “home turf”, noting that she spent her student years there until her marriage. She had earlier won the seat in 2006 but lost it in 2011 to Congress leader Sunny Joseph.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar
BJP’s Rajeev Chandrasekhar is trailing from the Nemom constituency. Nemom made history in 2016 by electing O Rajagopal as the BJP’s first and only MLA in Kerala. However, the party lost the seat in 2021.
Chandrasekhar faces tough competition; CPI(M) leader, general education minister and sitting MLA V Sivankutty, and former Congress MLA KS Sabarinathan, making it one of the most closely watched contests in the state.
N Rangasamy
Chief Minister N Rangasamy, founder and leader of the All India NR Congress (AINRC), is contesting from two constituencies — Mangalam and Thattanchavady — in the 2026 Puducherry Assembly elections.
The CM is leading from both constituencies as of now.
VP Ramalingame
VP Ramalingame, Puducherry BJP chief, is contesting from Raj Bhavan constituency. He’s leading from the seat.
With inputs from agencies
If the exit polls are accurate, the BJP could retain Assam for a third straight term. Meanwhile, in West Bengal, the exit polls swung in the favour of the BJP rather than Mamata’s Trinamool Congress. In Tamil Nadu, most projections favour the return of MK Stalin’s DMK, though Vijay’s TVK is expected to influence the outcome. Exit polls in Puducherry suggest a comfortable win for the AINRC-led NDA.
- Catch the latest from the assembly elections here
But how are the big leaders faring so far? How is Mamata faring from Bhabhanipur? What about MK Stalin?
WEST BENGAL
West Bengal Assembly elections are the most keenly watched polls. Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress are fighting to retain power against an aggressive BJP campaign.
Mamata Banerjee
In the high-stakes contest, the Bhabhanipur constituency is the most crucial. West Bengal CM and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee is contesting the polls from here. As of now, Mamata is leading in the polls with her closest rival being BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari.
For the unaware, the Bhabhanipur seat is Mamata’s political base, the seat she chose to contest in 2021 after losing Nandigram to remain chief minister.
BJP's Suvendu Adhikari during a campaign amid the West Bengal Assembly elections, in Kolkata. File image/PTI
Suvendu Adhikari
BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari is trailing from the Bhabhanipur constituency as of now. By fielding Suvendu, the BJP hopes to beat Mamata on her home turf. In the 2021 Assembly elections, it was Suvendu who had beaten Mamata from the Nandigram constituency.
Kunal Ghosh
Among the closely watched seats is Beleghata, a key constituency in Kolkata that will play its part in shaping the state’s political future. The TMC’s Kunal Ghosh is trailing from the seat. He faces a multi-cornered contest against BJP’s Partha Chaudhury, CPI(M)’s Paramita Roy and Congress candidate Shahina Javed.
Firhad Hakim
A close aide of Mamata Banerjee, Firhad Hakim is leading from the Kolkata Port constituency. He is facing off against Rakesh Singh. Hakim has won the seat in three consecutive elections and remains the party’s strongest face in this constituency.
In the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, Firhad Hakim defeated BJP’s Awadh Kishore Gupta by a large margin of 68,554 votes.
TAMIL NADU
Will Vijay be the deciding factor in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections? Vijay’s entry has made him the X-factor, with his youth appeal and fan base drawing attention.
Vijay
Actor-politician Vijay is leading in Perambur but trailing in Tiruchirappalli East on counting day. Perambur has been traditionally a DMK bastion; in 2021, DMK’s RD Sekar won comfortably with 52.53 per cent of the vote.
TVK chief Vijay campaigns in Perambur after filing his Assembly election nomination. File image/PTI
Vijay’s decision to fight from two non-safe constituencies underlines an aggressive strategy aimed at testing his appeal against the ruling party across regions.
MK Stalin
MK Stalin has long represented the Kolathur seat and is hoping to repeat it once again, this election. File image/PTI
DMK chief and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin is trailing from the Kolathur constituency. The seat, represented by Stalin, has long been a DMK stronghold.
Stalin has won this seat thrice since its formation in 2011 after delimitation. In 2011, he beat AIADMK’s Saidai Duraisamy, with a narrow margin of under 3,000 votes. In 2016, Stalin managed to bag this seat comfortably with a margin of over 37,000 votes. And in 2021, Stalin continued his winning streak, and this time the margin of votes was more than 80,000.
Edappadi Palaniswami
Former Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami is leading from the Edappadi constituency. It is his hometown and stronghold.
For Palaniswami, a win from Edapaddi will reaffirm his authority within the AIADMK and present himself as the principal challenger to the DMK.
ASSAM
In Assam, the BJP is hoping to achieve a hat-trick. The question is — can the Congress led by Gaurav Gogoi put a stop to the BJP?
Himata Biswa Sarma
The BJP’s Himanta Biswa Sarma is leading from the Jalukbari constituency. The Assam CM is currently leading against Bidisha Neog of the Congress as officials continue the counting process under tight security.
Assam Minister and senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma during an election campaign. File image/PTI
Sarma has won five straight elections from Jalukbari since 2001, showcasing strong voter support.
Gaurav Gogoi
The Congress’s Gaurav Gogoi is leading from the Jorhat constituency. The Congress leader is up against BJP’s Hitendra Nath Goswami, who has on and off represented the seat for more than 20 years.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, Goswami retained the seat, defeating Congress’s Rana Goswami by a margin of 6,488 votes. This was a tighter contest compared to 2016, when Goswami won by over 13,000 votes.
Akhil Gogoi
Firebrand activist-turned-politician Akhil Gogoi, president of the Raijor Dal, is leading from the Sibsagar seat. He’s up against Kushal Dowari from the BJP, Tapan Gogoi from the AAP, and Prodip Hazarika representing the AGP.
KERALA
In the southern state, Pinarayi Vijayan is seeking to retain power for the LDF against the Congress-led UDF.
Pinarayi Vijayan
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is once again contesting from the Dharmadam constituency and is currently leading there.
Pinarayi Vijayan seems to be continuing his winning streak from the Dharmadam constituency. File image/PTI
The CM has remained undefeated in the past two elections from the same constituency. In the 2021 Assembly elections, Vijayan defeated C Raghunathan of Congress by a margin of 50,123 votes. Meanwhile, in the 2016 Assembly elections, Vijayan defeated Mambaram Divakaran of the Congress by a majority of 50, 424 votes. The Congress has fielded VP Abdul Rasheed as their candidate to fight Vijayan.
KK Shailaja
KK Shailaja, the former Kerala health minister, is trailing from the Peravoor seat. In the earlier polls, she represented Mattannur.
However, the Peravoor constituency is not new to Shailaja. She has described the seat as her “home turf”, noting that she spent her student years there until her marriage. She had earlier won the seat in 2006 but lost it in 2011 to Congress leader Sunny Joseph.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar
BJP’s Rajeev Chandrasekhar is trailing from the Nemom constituency. Nemom made history in 2016 by electing O Rajagopal as the BJP’s first and only MLA in Kerala. However, the party lost the seat in 2021.
BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar is trailing behind frontrunner LDF candidate V Sivankutty. File image/PTI
Chandrasekhar faces tough competition; CPI(M) leader, general education minister and sitting MLA V Sivankutty, and former Congress MLA KS Sabarinathan, making it one of the most closely watched contests in the state.
PUDUCHERRY
N Rangasamy
Chief Minister N Rangasamy, founder and leader of the All India NR Congress (AINRC), is contesting from two constituencies — Mangalam and Thattanchavady — in the 2026 Puducherry Assembly elections.
The CM is leading from both constituencies as of now.
Chief Minister of Puducherry N.Rangasamy (holding mike) during an election campaign. File image/PTI
VP Ramalingame
VP Ramalingame, Puducherry BJP chief, is contesting from Raj Bhavan constituency. He’s leading from the seat.
With inputs from agencies
