New Delhi: Counting of votes for Assembly by-elections across five states is underway, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leading in multiple constituencies, while the Indian National Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are ahead in key seats.

The bypolls were held on April 9 in seven constituencies across Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Nagaland and Tripura following the demise of sitting MLAs. Meanwhile, the bypoll in Goa’s Ponda constituency was declared null and void by the Bombay High Court.

In Maharashtra’s high-profile Baramati seat, NCP candidate and Maharashtra Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar has taken a commanding lead. After five rounds of counting, she has secured 53,478 votes, leading by over 53,250 votes against her nearest rival, R.Y. Ghutukade.

In another key contest in Rahuri, BJP candidate Akshay Shivajirao Kardile is leading with a margin exceeding 46,000 votes, firmly ahead of NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) candidate Mokate Govind Khandu.

In Karnataka, Congress candidate Umesh Hullappa Meti is ahead in Bagalkot by nearly 10,000 votes, while BJP’s Shrinivasa T. Dasakariyappa is leading in Davanagere South. The contest is viewed as a prestige battle for the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP, with the latter aiming to capture the seat and deal a blow to the Siddaramaiah-led party amid reports of an internal power struggle.

In Gujarat’s Umreth seat, BJP’s Harshadbhai Govindbhai Parmar has established a strong lead of over 20,000 votes against Congress candidate Bhrugurajsingh Chauhan. In Nagaland’s Koridang constituency, BJP candidate Daochier I. Imchen is ahead, maintaining a steady margin as counting nears completion.

Early trends indicate BJP’s strong performance across multiple states, while Congress and NCP remain competitive in select constituencies. These bypolls, though limited in scale, are being closely watched as indicators of regional political sentiment and shifting voter preferences ahead of future electoral battles.

New Delhi, May 1: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs on Friday claimed that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has “panicked” before the Assembly election results on May 4 and is looking for an “excuse” for defeat.

The response came after the Bengal CM, on Thursday night, stormed the Sakhawat Memorial Government Girls High School, the venue for a strong-room storing the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) for the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in South Kolkata and stayed there past midnight, alleging EVM tampering.

BJP national spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain remarked that the Trinamool Congress is “panicking” due to the fear of defeat.

“In panic and confusion, they are going to the strong room. The public has already made its decision. The Bharatiya Janata Party is going to come with full strength,” he told media.

He mentioned that the exit polls too have given an edge to the BJP.

Hussain also echoed: “Trinamool Congress is looking for an excuse. It wants to blame the Election Commission for its defeat.”

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla called the Trinamool Congress members as “people belonging to mafia culture”.

He said, “Trinamool has adopted the triple D approach. Denial, Diversion and Drama. They are even threatening people now. The party leaders also abuse the Constitutional establishments like the Election Commission.

Poonawalla referred to a viral video in which Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee is purportedly heard making objectionable remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

He said, “More than the exit polls, his statement is proof that Trinamool is going to exit.”

Bihar BJP President Sanjay Saraogi termed Banerjee’s visit to the strong room as her “frustration”.

“It is coming across as if she (Banerjee) is also losing from Bhabanipur. The kind of activity she is doing, even the law does not approve of that. Panic is clearly visible on her face. People used to call Bihar as ‘Jungle Raj’, but for the past 15 years, there has been ‘Maha Jungle Raj’ in Bengal. People are fed up there,” he said.

About the exit polls, he said: “Most of them have given the BJP an edge, which is why she is more panicked.”

BJP leader Dilip Ghosh said that the losing side seems to have no other “excuse left”.

“After ruling for 15 years, if a party is now doing politics over SIR and strong rooms, what does that indicate? It suggests the party has already accepted defeat and is now searching for some excuse,” he told reporters.

BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal accused CM Banerjee of not taking responsibility for her actions.

“She (Banerjee) has lost the election, and the people have shown her the way out of Bengal, so she is blaming EVMs,” he said.

New Delhi, April 30: As multiple exit polls projected notable gains for the BJP in West Bengal and Assam, leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Thursday voiced confidence that “double-engine governments” would be formed in both states, while also expressing optimism about the party’s performance in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

According to Matrize exit poll findings, the BJP is likely to register a strong showing in the West Bengal Assembly elections, with projections placing the party in the range of 146–161 seats and a vote share of around 42.5 per cent.

The same survey indicates that in Tamil Nadu, which has a 234-seat Assembly, the DMK-led alliance is expected to retain power. In Kerala’s 140-seat Assembly, a close contest is anticipated between the two main fronts. Matrize projects the Congress-led UDF to secure 70–75 seats, slightly ahead of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), which is estimated to win 60–65 seats.

The reuslts will be announced on May 4.

Reacting to the projections, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, “This time in Bengal, the people of Bengal have made up their mind for change. Change is definitely going to happen.”

Bihar BJP President Sanjay Saraogi struck a cautious note while referring to the exit polls, and told media, “According to exit polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party appears to be leading. However, the final results will only be known on counting day… For the first time, many people who were previously deprived of voting rights were able to cast their votes.”

He further added that based on exit poll results, “it appears that the Bharatiya Janata Party will come to power in West Bengal.”

“For the first time, voters in Bengal have been able to cast their votes in a peaceful and fear-free environment. In past elections, there have been allegations of violence and booth capturing, but this time, voters were able to exercise their right freely and in large numbers,” he said.

JD(U) Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Kumar Jha, also stated that the BJP will win in Bengal. Speaking to the reporters, Jha said, “Many exit polls from Bengal indicate that the NDA is ahead. The results will come on the 4th, but based on the feedback from journalists and political people who went, and since it is a neighbouring state, an NDA government is coming to Bengal.”

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the trend was expected, remarking, “This was bound to happen. The people have given their full blessings… The change in Bengal is certain, which will be visible to us on the 4th in the form of results.”

Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra added a lighter tone to the political anticipation, saying, “May 4 is about to come, and saffron is visible everywhere. The mood of the public is now understandable. I think we should wait for the evening of the 4th, everyone will eat jhalmuri, everyone will eat jalebi.”

Speaking to the reporters, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said, “In West Bengal, the BJP is seen coming with a strong majority in the exit polls. After voting, we should wait for the counting of votes.”

JD(U) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad said, “Undoubtedly, the exit poll trends and almost all surveys indicate that a massive mandate is going to be received by the Bharatiya Janata Party in Assam.”

BJP National Spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain, speaking to media, also expressed strong confidence in the party’s prospects, stating, “The exit poll results indicate that in Assam and West Bengal, our government is going to be formed with a huge majority. We will also perform well in Tamil Nadu, and in Keralam, we are expected to deliver a surprise result. In West Bengal, just as the sunrise is certain, the formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party government is also certain.”