New Delhi: The countdown has begun for a decisive political verdict as counting of votes for the 2026 Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and the Union Territory of Puducherry will be held tomorrow, with results expected to shape the next phase of regional and national politics.

The counting follows multi-phase polling marked by fierce campaigning, strong voter turnout, and a dramatic late intervention in West Bengal.

 Polling & Seat Breakdown

• Assam: Voting held for 126 seats on April 9
• Kerala: Polling completed for 140 seats on April 9
• Puducherry: Voting conducted for 30 seats on April 9
• Tamil Nadu: Counting for 234 Assembly constituencies
• West Bengal: Counting for 293 seats out of total 294 seats

Bengal Repoll Twist

In a significant late-night move, the Election Commission of India ordered a complete repoll in the Falta Assembly constituency of West Bengal, citing “serious electoral offences” during polling on April 29.

• Entire polling exercise declared “vitiated”
• Fresh voting mandated in all 285 polling stations, including auxiliary booths
• Counting tomorrow will exclude Falta, bringing the immediate tally to 293 seats

📅 Repoll Schedule (Falta):

• Re-election to be held on May 21
• Polling timings: 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Counting of votes for the seat deferred to May 24 after completion of repoll

Counting Schedule & Process

• Counting to commence at 8:00 AM across centres
• Postal ballots to be taken up first, followed by EVM counting
• Multiple rounds in each constituency; early trends expected within hours

Key Election Stats

• Coverage: 4 states + 1 Union Territory
• Total Assembly seats: 824
• High voter participation recorded across phases
• Final results expected by evening in most constituencies

Security & Tech Measures

• Multi-layer security deployment at counting centres
• Strict access control and verification protocols
• Use of QR code-based identity cards for authorised personnel
• Continuous monitoring to ensure transparency

Major Political Battles

• Tamil Nadu: Intense Dravidian rivalry
• Kerala: Tight triangular contest
• West Bengal & Assam: Multi-cornered, high-stakes fights
• Puducherry: Leadership-driven electoral contest

 What to Watch

• Early trends likely to shape the narrative by late morning
• Close races may delay final calls in key seats
• Outcomes expected to influence future national political alignments

With a last-minute repoll twist in West Bengal and stakes running high across regions, counting day promises gripping action as India awaits a crucial electoral verdict.