New Delhi: Polling is underway on Thursday in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, while elections have already concluded in Kerala, Assam and the Union Territory of Puducherry. The second phase of polling in West Bengal is scheduled for April 29. With four states and one Union Territory going to polls, political interest remains high over who will form the next government. Vote counting is scheduled for May 4. Ahead of the results, several pre-poll surveys have released their projections across these regions.
In Tamil Nadu, which has 234 Assembly seats, multiple surveys indicate that the DMK-led alliance is likely to retain power. According to Prajapol, the DMK+ alliance is projected to win 150 seats, AIADMK+ 70 seats, and TVK 14 seats. Lokpol projects DMK+ at 181–189 seats, AIADMK+ at 38–42 seats, TVK at 8–10 seats, and others at 0–2 seats. Poll Tracker estimates DMK+ at 172–178 seats, AIADMK+ at 46–52 seats, TVK at 6–12 seats, and others at 0–2 seats.
In West Bengal, where 294 Assembly seats are at stake, survey predictions remain divided. Jan Lok Poll projects NDA at 146–151 seats, AITC at 134–139 seats, and others at 8–9 seats. Dynamic Polling predicts BJP at 156 seats, TMC at 127 seats, INC at 6 seats, and ISF at 4 seats. Meanwhile, Satta Bazaar forecasts TMC at 158–161 seats, BJP at 127–130 seats, and INC at 4–6 seats.
In Kerala, elections were held for 140 Assembly seats, with most surveys indicating a possible return of the Left Democratic Front (LDF). Lok Poll projects LDF at 58–62 seats, UDF at 77–81 seats, and NDA at 1–2 seats. SAS Survey estimates LDF at 69–73 seats, UDF at 67–72 seats, and BJP at 3–4 seats. Satta Bazaar projects UDF at 75–77 seats and LDF at 62–64 seats.
In Assam, where 126 Assembly seats went to polls, most surveys suggest a continued advantage for the NDA. SAS Survey projects NDA at 80–86 seats, INC at 40–46 seats, and others at 6–10 seats. Shining India estimates BJP at 76 seats, Congress at 40 seats, UDF at 4 seats, and others at 6 seats.
In the Union Territory of Puducherry, which has 30 Assembly seats, surveys indicate a likely edge for the NDA. Special Media Network projects NDA at 14 seats, Congress-DMK at 13 seats, TVK at 2 seats, and others at 1 seat. People’s Pulse forecasts NDA at 14–17 seats, SPA at 9–11 seats, TVK at 2–4 seats, and others at 1–2 seats.