BJP, Left eye hat-tricks in Assam, Kerala; NDA aims to retain Puducherry

Polling for Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry began at 7 am on Thursday amid tight security, webcasting and special voter facilities, with voting set to continue till 6 pm.

In Assam, the 126-seat contest is largely a face-off between the BJP-led NDA and the Congress-led opposition alliance. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is seeking a third term, while Gaurav Gogoi is leading the Congress campaign to reclaim power.

Kerala is witnessing its traditional bipolar contest between the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by Communist Party of India (Marxist), and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is aiming for another term, while the BJP looks to expand its presence.

In Puducherry, the NDA—led by Chief Minister N Rangasamy—is up against the Congress-DMK-led INDIA bloc, with actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam adding a new dimension to the contest.

Bypolls are also being held in five Assembly constituencies across Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland and Tripura.

With over three crore voters eligible across the three regions, the elections are being closely watched for both regional outcomes and their broader national implications. Results will be declared on May 4.