BJP storms Assam; TMC, AIADMK set to retain power; LDF in Kerala

In the Union Territory of Puducherry, Congress-DMK alliance was ahead in the 30-member assembly closely followed by AINRC headed by Chief Minister and former Congressman N Rangaswamy.

BJP is all set form its first government in the north east by dislodging Congress which has been in power for three consecutive terms. The saffron party was leading in 74 of the 126 seats while the ruling Congress was trailing far behind at 31. The ADUF led by Badaruddin Ajmal was ahead in 12 seats. 'Others' were leading in nine seats.

In West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee's TMC maintained its hold against an unlikely alliance of CPI(M) and Congress. The TMC was ahead in 218 seats out of total 294. The Left parties are leading in 29 and BJP was ahead in 7 seats.

As per trends, J Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK appears to be winning Tamil Nadu for a straight second term, bucking the tradition since 1989 when a ruling party has not returned to power. AIADMK's performance has also disproved several exit poll predictions. The AIADMK was leading in 131 seats while DMK-Congress alliance was ahead in 97 seats. While the third front of parties headed by DMDK's Vijaykant failed to make an impact, the PMK which contested all the 232 seats could lead only in two seats.

In Kerala, the Left Front was well on the road to dislodge Congress from power. The Left Democratic Front was ahead in 90 of the 140 seats while the ruling UDF was behind at 48.

In Puducherry, the Congress-DMK alliance was leading in 15 of the 30 seats. The ruling AINRC was leading in 11 seats while AIADMK was ahead in 2 seat.