As it happened: TMC, AIADMK retain power; BJP takes Assam, Left Kerala

Assembly poll results in maps: Assam | West Bengal | Tamil Nadu | Kerala | Puducherry

Tally table:

Moment by moment, how the counting day panned out...

5.30pm:

- “It is a win of positive politics and we can see a beginning of the politics of performance,” BJP President Amit Shah said on his party’s maiden victory in the Assam assembly polls and the rise in its vote share in other states.

- “The country has taken two more steps towards Congress-mukt Bharat. In all these places BJP had never been able to put up a good performance. This time a staunch foundation has been laid and a building will be created by 2019,” he added.

1:50pm:
- Congress leader Tarun Gogoi said, “With all humbleness we accept the verdict of people of Assam.”

- “I congratulate Sarbananda Sonowal and BJP for their grand success, we will fulfil our role as opposition.”

1:45pm:
- CPM leader Prakash Karat said, “This is a huge win for LDF in Kerala, will bring development for Kerala and take people towards a new direction.”

1pm:
- Congress leader Oommen Chandy said, “ A win is a win, a loss is a loss, you can’t define it in a democracy.

- “UDF accepts people’s verdict.This loss was unexpected. We’ll assess results, will discuss all aspects.”

- “We did not expect this defeat, a major setback. We are going to discuss all aspects at party level and UDF level.”

- “As the chairman of UDF front, I take the responsibility of this defeat.”

12:50pm:
- Jayalalithaa said, “Promises made in manifesto will be fulfilled, will continuously strive towards making Tamil Nadu first in all spheres of development.”

- “I convey my heartiest thanks to voters who have reaffirmed their faith on me and given me another chance.”

- “False campaigning by DMK has been defeated. People of Tamil Nadu have rejected family politics carried out by our opponents.”

12:35pm:
- Jitendra Singh, MoS PMO, said, “Thank the people of Assam. It is retitration of faith of the people in leadership of PM Modi.”

- Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said, “It is of course disappointing, we will be a constructive opposition.”

12:20pm:
- “Just consider me a ‘LIP’, least important person,” CM Mamata Banerjee on if she would play a bigger role in 2019 elections.

- “Tomorrow we have called a meeting of all the newly-elected MLAs at 12:30pm.”

12:10pm:
- Mamata Banerjee said, “No corruption is there in Bengal. It is a ‘corruption-less’ state.

- “We will take oath on May 27. A session of assembly will be called before May 29.”

- “Aap dekhte jaiye aage kya hota hai,” Mamata Banerjee on whether she would be a part of a non-BJP and non-Congress alliance in future.

12:05pm:
- Mamata Banerjee said, “I want to thank the Election Commission as elections were conducted peacefully in West Bengal.

- “A smear campaign was launched against us for last 2 yrs but we’re thankful to people for rejecting such campaigns and giving us victory.”

- “Attempts to mislead and create an atmosphere of fear among people were made but they voted peacefully and fearlessly.”

- We fought alone this time. Last elections, Trinamool had won 184 seats in alliance. This time, Opposition was united against us.”

- “Want to thank the people of Bengal for giving us a huge victory.”

Also Read | In depth: Shrewd moves help Amma explode anti-incumbency myth in TN

12pm:
- Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said, “We accept the verdict of people with humility. My best wishes to the parties that have won the elections.

11:55am:
- Film stars Mukesh and KB Ganesh Kumar, both from LDF, won in Kerala.

- TV anchor Veena George (LDF) won in Kerala.

11:45am:
- PM Narendra Modi speaks to Sarbanand Sonwal to congratulate him on poll win in Assam, says BJP will do everything possible to fulfil dreams of people of Assam.

11:40am:
- Former Kerala finance minister KM Mani, who was forced to resign in the wake of bar bribery case, retains his Pala seat. This is his 13th straight win.

- Late Congress leader K Karunakaran’s daughter Padmaja Venugopal defeated in Thrissur.

- At least three ministers in Chandy cabinet fell wayside in LDF wave. SC/ST minister PK Jayalakshmi, agriculture minister KP Mohanan and labour minister Shibu baby Jhon defeated. Assembly Speaker N Sakthan also lost.

11:30am:
- BJP’s CM candidate Sarbananda Sonowal said, “I am sincerely grateful to people of Assam for giving us opportunity to work for the development of state.”

- Mamata Banerjee is leading with 21,539 votes in Bhabanipur, followed by Congress’ Deepa Dasmunsi (10,045 votes).

- Kiren Rijiju said, “The BJP has started to win, now Assam & others states as and when elections will be held. Congress will be wiped off.”

11:30am:
- BJP’s CM candidate Sarbananda Sonowal said, “I am sincerely grateful to people of Assam for giving us opportunity to work for the development of state.”

Also Read | In depth: BJP set to make big electoral gains from assembly poll results

11:20am
- Former cricketer S Sreesanth, BJP candidate from Thiruvananthapuram, was pushed to the third spot. The seat was retained by state health minister VS Shivakumar.

11:15am:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “Had a telephone conversation with Jayalalithaa ji and congratulated her on her victory. Also conveyed my best wishes to her (sic).”

- “Spoken to @MamataOfficial ji & congratulated her on the impressive victory. My best wishes to her as she begins her 2nd term (sic).”

Also Read | In depth: Why Kerala gave no cheer to Oommen Chandy in elections

11am:
- BJP parliamentary board meeting to be held at 6 pm today in Delhi.

10:55am
- BJP leader Ram Madhav said on Assam results, “Yeh vijay BJP ke liye bahut mahatvapurn hai, ye Congress ke liye ek lesson hai. (This victory is very important for the BJP. It’s a lesson for Congress).

- Want to thank people of Assam for giving us 48-49% vote, the Centre is committed for development of the state.

Also Read | In depth: Shrewd moves help Amma explode anti-incumbency myth in TN

10:25am:
- Mamata Banerjee takes big lead of over 3000 votes over BJP’s Chandra Bose in Bhabanipur in West Bengal.

- Congress wins one seat and leading on 4 seats, All India NR Congress wins one seat & leading on 4.

10:35am:
- AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal trailing by over 7861 votes to Congress’s candidate from Salmara South constituency in Assam.

- BJP CM candidate Sarbananda Sonowal leading from Majuli by 3767 votes, CM Tarun Gogoi leading from Titabor by 4432 votes in Assam.

10:20am:
- Tamil Nadu DMDK chief Captain Vijaykanth trailing at third position in Ulundurpettai constituency; AIADMK leading, DMK second.

- Congress leader PC Chako said, “Looks like will have to concede defeat in Kerala, yes responsibility will be fixed.

Also Read | Who said what on assembly poll results: ‘Lotus will surely blossom in Assam’

10am:
- BJP’s Chandra Bose closes gap in Bhabanipur constituency, Mamata Banerjee now leads by 158 votes in West Bengal.

9:45am:
- BJP’s Chandra Bose in third position in Bhabanipur constituency in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee leads.

- NDA’s Ravisha Thantri Kuntar leading from Kasargod seat by 4517 votes in Kerala.

- BJP CM candidate Sarbananda Sonowal leading from Majuli. CM Tarun Gogoi leading from Titabor.

- TMC’s candidate from Siliguri Bhaichung Bhutia trails CPIM candidate Ashok Bhattacharya by 1373 votes in West Bengal

Full Coverage: Assembly Elections 2016

9:25am:
- PMK’s Anbumani Ramadoss trailing in Pennagram constituency in Dharmapuri that he represents in Lok Sabha.

- Vijayakanth is trailing at Ulundurpet constituency.

- State finance minister and former chief minister O Pannerselvam has established a slender lead in Bodinakanur.

9:20am:
- Kerala former CM VS Achuthanandan leading from Malampuzha constituency by 4056 votes.

- Kerala Senior CPIM leader Pinari Vijayan leading in Dharmadom constituency by 11688 votes.

- Assam latest EC data from postal ballots: BJP leading in Dibrugarh,Moran,Lahoal and Tingkhong.

- Jayalailithaa leads in RK Nagar constituency seat (Tamil Nadu) by 1906 votes.

- Kerala CM Oommen Chandy leading from Puthupally constituency by 2019 votes.

8:40am:
- Tamil Nadu latest EC data from postal ballots: AIADMK leading in 8 seats, DMK leading in 13 seats.

8:25am:
- Actor & former minister Ganesh Kumar (LDF) leading by 70 votes (postal ballots) in Pathanapuram constituency in Kollam (Kerala).

8:10am:
- First trends coming out of Kerala, LDF leading in 7 seats, UDF in 3 seats

8am:
- Postal ballots being opened in a counting centre in Chennai.

8am:
- Counting begins in West Bengal,Assam,Tamil Nadu,Kerala and Puducherry. Postal ballots to be opened first.

7:50am:

7am:
- Kerala CM Oommen Chandy visits St. John’s Church in Thiruvananthapuram.

7am:
- BJP leader S Sreesanth said, “ We should be able to get 30 to 35 seats hopefully and mark our entry in Kerala.”

6:30am:
- AIUDF leader Badruddin Ajmal said, “Exit polls were wrong, we will get 30 to 40 seats. I am confident.”

Full Coverage: Assembly elections 2016

Also Read | Assembly poll results may not boost Modi govt in Rajya Sabha

Exit polls had earlier suggested a summer of discontent against incumbent governments might sweep across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry, leaving only the redoubtable Mamata Banerjee untouched in West Bengal.

The BJP, which suffered a series of electoral reveres last year after its stupendous show in 2014, is predicted to romp home in Assam, a first for the saffron party in a state ruled by the Congress for the last 15 years.

It will set the stage for the BJP to make further forays into the northeastern region.

There are high stakes for the Congress in these elections. Already edged out of power by the BJP at the Centre and also in Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand and Jammu & Kashmir, the Opposition party now faces the prospects of two more states getting out of its hands -- Kerala and Assam -- as predicted by the exit polls.

If Banerjee survives in West Bengal, despite the Congress and the CPI(M) joining hands and reducing her victory margin, it would only buttress the Left’s crisis of credibility.

The Left’s projected victory in Kerala will, however, add some heft to its diminishing political clout at the national level.

Full Coverage: Assembly elections 2016

With inputs from Agencies