Assembly results: TMC seems to retain power in West Bengal; AIADMK in Tamil Nadu

Results and trends available in the elections to five states show that Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee seems set for retaining power in West Bengal and AIADMK led by Jayalalitha in Tamil Nadu. The BJP seems poised to wrest power from the Congress in Assam and the LDF in Kerala. In Puducherry, there is a neck and neck race between the Congress-DMK allies and AINRC.

In West Bengal the ruling Trinamool Congress is set to capture power for second term. The indication available so far say, the ruling party will win more than 200 seats in the 294 member State Assembly. Officially 12 results have been announced so far. Trinamool Congress has won 9, Left Front-1 and Congress-2. Women and Social Welfare Minister, Shashi Panja has begged the Shyampur seat of Kolkata defeating her nearest rival over 13000 votes.

The Arambagh seat of Hooghli district has been bagged by TMC candidate Krishna Chandra Santra. In the prestigious Chaurangi constituency of Kolkata Trinamool Congress candidate Nayana Banerjee has retained her seat defeating her nearest rival Somen Mitra of Congress.

In Bhawanipur Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has established a lead of over 11000 votes against her nearest rival Deepa Dasmunshi, Congress. In another 212 seats the TMC candidates are forging ahead. Combined Opposition Congress and Left are ahead in 67 and BJP -6 and Others 4. The Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi has congratulated Ms. Mamata Banerjee.

In Tamil Nadu, the early trends were in favour of DMK and its allies but it soon reversed



with AIADMK forging ahead as the counting mood on. The AIADMK is leading in 133 constituencies pushing down the DMK Congress allies to 94, PWF in 2.

In Assam,  BJP is leading in 50 constituencies, followed by Congress which is leading in 28. AIUDF has taken lead in 15 constituencies and Asom Gana Parishad is also leading in 15. BJP Chief Ministerial candidate Sarbananda Sonowal is leading in Majuli, whereas Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is leading in Titabar. Asom Gana Parishad President Atul Bora is leading in Bokakhat.

AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal is trailing behind Congress' Wazed Ali Choudhary in Salmara South. Former Chief Minister and AGP stalwart Prafulla Kumar Mahanta is leading in Barhampur. Sarbananda Sonowal has asserted that BJP and its alliance parties will work together for development of the state.

In Puducherry, AINRC has won 6 seats. Congress has won 6 seats and leading in 6, AIADMK has won 2. Chief Minister N.Rangasamy has won from Indira Nagar constituency.

Congress has said that it accepts the verdict of people with humility. In a series of tweets, party vice president Rahul Gandhi extended best wishes to the parties that have won the elections in states. Mr Gandhi thanked Congress workers and leaders and allies for their efforts during the elections. He said, Congress will work harder till it wins the confidence and trust of people.