DMK writes to ECI to ensure peaceful counting of votes

FIle photo of Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi. Mr. Gogoi lost the Jorhat Assembly seat by a margin of 23,182 votes. BJP’s Hitendranath Goswami defeated Mr. Gogoi.

| Photo Credit: ANI

Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi lost to BJP's Hitendranath Goswami by 23,182 votes in the Jorhat Assembly seat on Monday (May 4, 2026), according to the Election Commission of India (ECI).Mr. Gogoi, the sitting MP of Jorhat, polled 46,257 votes, while Mr. Goswami secured 69,439 votes, retaining the seat for a third consecutive term. Published - May 04, 2026 02:52 pm IST

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Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma leads in Jalukbari while State Congress president Gaurav Gogoi trails behind his BJP rival Hitendranath Goswami in Jorhat Updated

• May 04, 2026 01:28 pm IST

Assam BJP head office in Guwahati on Monday May 4, 2026. Photo: RITU RAJ KONWAR/ The Hindu

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Ritu Raj Konwar

The battle for Assam enters its final stage with the counting of votes on Monday (May 4, 2026). According to the early trends from the Election Commission of India, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was leading in over 70 seats. The counting of votes for 126 Assembly constituencies began on Monday to decide whether the ruling NDA retains power for the third successive term or the Congress-led Opposition alliance wrests it. Counting is being held at 40 centres across all 35 districts, with most districts having a single centre covering all constituencies. However, in Nagaon district, counting is being conducted at three separate centres, while Kokrajhar, Tinsukia and Jorhat have two centres each.For full coverage on Assam Assembly pollsWhile, the Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma-helmed BJP has predicted close to 100 seats for the NDA, the Gaurav Gogoi-steered Congress is confident of a similar number for the Asom Sonmilito Morcha (ASM) to return to power after 10 years.Follow our live updates hereKey Updates

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WATCH | Assam Election Results LIVE

May 04, 2026 13:07 Saffron takes lead in Assam; trends show NDA inching towards majorityAccording to the data from the ECI, trends show a clear lead for the BJP+ parties in the State, with the saffron party leading over the Congress-led Opposition. Screenshot 2026-05-04 130300.pngMay 04, 2026 12:57 Trends show BJP heading for a sweep in northern and eastern AssamGoing by trends up to the counting round 14, the BJP is heading for a sweep in the northern and eastern parts of Assam, the three tribal council areas (BTC, KAAC, NCHAC), and Barak Valley. -Rahul KarmakarMay 04, 2026 12:40 NDA ahead in Assam, ECI data showsThe ruling NDA was leading in 97 seats in Assam while the Congress was ahead in 24 constituencies, according to the Election Commission. Here is an image of number of seats/alliances leading in the State. Assam AE26 - Seat Trends@2x.pngMay 04, 2026 12:24 BJP’s Pradyut Bordoloi leading in DispurBJP candidate Pradyut Bordoloi, a Congress MP who had joined the saffron party just before the Assam Assembly elections, is leading in the crucial Dispur constituency, according to the Election Commission data.A Congressman for over five decades, Mr. Bordoloi had joined the BJP in mid-March this year, less than a month before the April 9 elections.Independent candidate Jayanta Kumar Das is placed in the third position. -PTIMay 04, 2026 12:10 Leader of Opposition in Assam Debabrata Saikia trailing in Nazira seatLeader of the Opposition in the outgoing Assam Assembly Debabrata Saikia is trailing behind BJP’s Mayur Borgohain in the Nazira constituency as counting of votes for the State polls progressed on Monday.According to the Election Commission website, Saikia polled 13,661 votes after the fourth round of counting, while Borgohain got 22536 votes.Mr. Saikia has represented the constituency since 2011 and won the last polls by a slender margin of less than 500 votes.Nazira is considered Mr. Saikia’s family stronghold, represented by his father and former Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia and his mother Hemoprava Saikia.-PTIMay 04, 2026 12:03 Akhil Gogoi trailing BJP's Kushal DowariRaijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi is trailing his BJP rival Kushal Dowari in Assam’s Sibsagar Assembly consti

Poll officials at a strong room before counting of votes during the Assam Assembly elections result day, at Tezpur, in Sonitpur district, on May 4, 2026.

| Photo Credit: PTI

With the counting of votes underway for the Assam Assembly elections held on April 9, 2026, the incumbent National Democratic Alliance, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of the Bharatiya Janata Party, is seeking a return to power. The Opposition alliance, the Asom Sonmilito Morcha, led by the Indian National Congress, is hoping to make electoral gains in the State.Assam registered a record estimated voter turnout of 85.64%. Describing the participation as historic, the Chief Minister said the outcome of the election was already reflected in the sense of hope and confidence among the people. Published - May 04, 2026 12:23 pm IST

Security personnel and officials outside a vote counting centre during the West Bengal Assembly election results day, in Kolkata, on Monday (May 4, 2026).

| Photo Credit: PTI

The counting of votes for the Assembly elections 2026 in five States is under way, with early trends expected to emerge shortly from all constituencies. Votes are being counted, in multiple rounds, across hundreds of constituencies under tight security arrangements. The results will decide the next governments in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and West Bengal. Along with the main polls, counting for several Assembly bypolls is also in progress.“Amid a comprehensive three-tier security, counting of votes commenced at 8 a.m. on Monday (May 4, 2026) in all the 62 designated counting centres in the State,” officials said. Published - May 04, 2026 08:48 am IST

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West Bengal

The Election Commission of India has assured all political parties of a triple-layer security at all counting centres with specialised patrols in vulnerable zones; only authorised personnel with QR-coded IDs are permitted entry in the counting venue Updated

• May 04, 2026 08:25 am IST

Central paramilitary forces and Kolkata Police maintain tight security outside the strong room (ballot box preservation room) and counting centre of Bhabanipur Assembly constituency at Shekhwat School ahead of vote counting for the West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections 2026, in Kolkata on Sunday.

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ANI

West Bengal heads into verdict day today (May 4, 2026) after over a month of frenzied campaigning, as it waits with bated breath to see whether the TMC manages to hold on to power or the BJP makes a historic breakthrough and claims the State for the first time. As the EVMs open at 8 a.m., the CPI(M) and the Congress will be watching with equal keenness, hoping to reclaim a foothold in the State’s electoral map after five years in the wilderness, following their wipeout in the 2021 polls.Also Read | All set for counting; ECI promises transparencyThe Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday (May 2, 2026) appointed 165 additional counting observers and 77 police observers for counting of votes polled during West Bengal Assembly election on May 4. The directions by the Commission assume significance as the past few days saw the Trinamool Congress leadership, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, raising allegations of possible irregularities at the counting centres. Also read: An SIR-marred turnout in West BengalThis year the State saw a turnout of 92.8% in the first phase on April 23, while the second recorded 91.47 % polling on April 29 — the highest in the State since Independence, according to the State’s Chief Electoral Officer. However the SIR exercise, which happened in a highly controversial manner in West Bengal, brought down the electorate by nearly 11% from 7.66 crore to 6.82 crore. Follow here for more updates:

TMC eyes third term, BJP seeks historic win after record turnout

May 04, 2026 08:17 In Bengal, election results roll in for an SIR-marred turnoutThe West Bengal elections were held under the shadow of the SIR exercise, in which the names of around 91 lakh people were removed from the electoral rolls, which shrank to around 6.82 crore.​

In absolute terms, the increase in voter turnout in the eastern State was lowest among recent electoral cycles. ​Click below to read

The Hindu’s Data analysis on how SIR affected the electorate figures this election. ​A SIR-marred turnout in West BengalWest Bengal's record voter turnout is misleading due to a significant decrease in eligible voters from controversial electoral roll revisions.​May 04, 2026 08:08 Counting of votes for Bengal polls begins as TMC eyes fourth straight term, BJP to script history Counting of votes for the high-stakes Assembly elections in West Bengal began at 8 a.m. on Monday (May 4, 2026), with the verdict set to decide whether the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC returns to power for a fourth consecutive term or the BJP scripts history by forming its first government in the State.The counting is being held for 293 of 294 Assembly segments in 77 centres across 23 districts of the State under a multi-layered security cordon, deciding the fate of 2,926 candidates.-

PTIMay 04, 2026 08:01 Tight security across West Bengal

Stringent security arrangements were put in place across West Bengal on Monday (May 4, 2026) as counting of votes for the high-stakes assembly elections will begin at 8 a.m., officials said.More than 2.5 lakh personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), along with state police, have been deployed at 77 counting centres across 23 districts under a multi-layered security grid, they said.Strongrooms housing EVMs were placed under round-the-clock surveillance, as TMC and BJP workers gathered out

A view of the Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters in Chennai. File

| Photo Credit: B. Velankanni Raj

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Sunday (May 3, 2026) urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure peace, public order, and the integrity of the Assembly election vote-counting process across Tamil Nadu on May 4.In a letter to Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik, DMK organisation secretary R.S. Bharathi claimed the party had received “credible information” about alleged plans by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and others to disrupt counting at centres during the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Elections 2026. Published - May 03, 2026 01:58 pm IST

TN polls: 18,000 cops on duty at counting centres as state gears up for results tomorrow Social News XYZ

"Dawn of new era of good governance": Amit Shah hails record turnout in first phase of Bengal polls ANI News