Exit polls indicate a potential hung assembly in West Bengal and a power shift in Kerala following the 2026 state elections [5, 6].
These projections signal a volatile political climate across several Indian states, where voter sentiment is splitting between a desire for continuity and a demand for leadership changes.
In West Bengal, the contest between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by Mamata Banerjee and the BJP appears tight. Current projections suggest a hung assembly is likely, which would end the tenure of Banerjee [5]. Voting in the state occurred in two phases on April 23 and April 29, 2026 [1].
Kerala's electoral landscape shows a different trend. The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is projected to make gains against the incumbent Left Democratic Front (LDF) [6]. The state held a single-phase vote on Thursday, April 23, 2026 [2]. According to election data, over 2.6 crore voters [3] participated in the process, with 883 candidates [4] competing for seats.
Assam presents a more stable outlook compared to its neighbors. Exit polls suggest a continuation of the incumbent government is expected in the state [7]. Like Kerala, Assam conducted its voting on April 23, 2026 [2].
These results come as the region awaits the official counting day, which is expected in late April or early May 2026 [2]. While some reports initially indicated that exit polls would not be released immediately on voting days, subsequent projections have provided these early glimpses into the electoral mood [1, 5].
“Exit polls suggest a hung assembly likely, ending Mamata Banerjee’s tenure”
The divergent projections across West Bengal, Kerala, and Assam highlight a fragmented political mandate. A hung assembly in West Bengal could lead to prolonged coalition negotiations or instability, while a shift in Kerala suggests a rejection of the LDF's current governance. Conversely, the projected continuity in Assam indicates a consolidation of power for the incumbent party in the northeast.
