After the conclusion first phase of the 2026 Assembly election cycle in Assam, Puducherry and Kerala, political attention is now shifting to West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, where preparations are underway
for the next round of high-stakes electoral contests.
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With polling in the northeastern and southern states drawing intense campaigning and national-level attention, political parties are now gearing up to intensify their strategies in Bengal and Tamil Nadu. Both states are expected to witness fierce multi-party battles, with regional parties and national outfits stepping up their outreach among voters.
West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 Live Updates
Assam and Puducherry surpassed their highest-ever voter turnout, recording 85.38% and 89.83% participation respectively. Kerala registered an overall turnout of 78.03%, with women voting at a higher rate (80.86%) than men (75.01%), while turnout among the third gender stood at 57.04%.
Key Dates, Phases
Voting for the 294-member Assembly in West Bengal will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, while counting of votes is scheduled for May 4. The first phase includes 152 Assembly constituencies, while the second phase covers 142 Assembly constituencies.
Polling for single-phase Tamil Nadu assembly elections is scheduled to be held on April 23, with counting of votes set for May 4.
BJP Vs TMC In West Bengal
Political heat is at its peak in West Bengal, which braces for the next Assembly Elections. While the fight is mostly between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition BJP in the eastern state, the Left and the Congress are also in the fray.
As the campaign gathers momentum, the key question in the state is whether the Trinamool Congress will retain power or if the BJP will finally wrest control. Most opinion polls suggest the contest is largely between the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and the BJP, led in the state by Suvendu Adhikari.
According to the Votevibe-CNN-News18 survey, the TMC, is likely to form the government for the fourth time. The survey says that the Trinamool Congress is likely to win around 184 to 194 seats out of the 294 assembly seats. That is, much more than the number of seats required to form the government (148).
Meanwhile, the Matrix–IANS survey presents a slightly different picture. It projects the Trinamool Congress winning 155–170 seats, while the BJP could secure 100–115 seats. The survey suggests that even if the TMC retains power, its margin may shrink compared to the previous election, with the BJP emerging as a strong contender.
