News Desk: The high-voltage counting of votes for Assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry began Monday morning, with early trends already hinting at major political shifts across these crucial regions.

Bengal Showdown Intensifies
In West Bengal, the spotlight remains firmly on a fierce contest, where the Bharatiya Janata Party is pushing aggressively to dislodge the long-standing All India Trinamool Congress government, which has ruled the state for over a decade.

Assam & Puducherry: BJP Eyes Expansion
In Assam, the BJP is aiming for a third straight term, banking on its governance record and strong organisational network. Meanwhile, in Puducherry, the party is seeking a return to power through alliance politics.

Kerala’s Bipolar Contest
Kerala continues to witness its traditional straight fight between the ruling Left Democratic Front and the Congress-led United Democratic Front, with early leads being closely tracked.

Tamil Nadu Sees New Political Twist
In Tamil Nadu, the battle has turned multi-dimensional. While the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam faces off against the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-BJP alliance, all eyes are on actor-turned-politician Vijay and his newly launched Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which is showing strong early momentum.

Celebrations broke out among Vijay’s supporters as initial trends indicated a significant lead for TVK, with family members and party workers marking the moment with loud cheers and whistles.

Adding to the buzz, a DMK worker, Lakshmi Priya, expressed optimism over the emerging trends, saying the state was ready for a change. “People were expecting something new, and I believe it will be a positive shift. Vijay could be the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu,” she said.

More updates awaited as counting progresses…