MAMATA, STALIN BITE THE DUST IN WEST BENGAL, TAMIL NADU; BJP RETAINS KORIDANG ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCY IN BYPOLL
The BJP is set to form its first government in West Bengal with a landslide victory in the state polls as the Election Commission’s (EC) trends on Monday showed that the party has gone past the 200-mark in combined wins and leads in the 294-member Assembly.
The saffron party is also set to retain Assam for a third term, while the latest electoral cycle also saw a spectacular debut in Tamil Nadu by actor-politician Vijay’s TVK with 107 wins and leads out of 234 seats to emerge as the single-largest party, a wipeout of the Left as it tasted defeat in its last bastion of a Kerala, and a solitary win there for the Congress, which has been battling diminishing electoral returns.
In Assam, where the election was a hot-headed affair too, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma led the BJP to another straight victory, bagging 82 of the 126 seats, leaving the Congress far behind at 19. State Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi faced his first electoral defeat in Jorhat.
In Puducherry, the All India NR Congress had won or was ahead in 12 of the 30 seats. The DMK stood at five and the BJP at four.
Vijay breaks Dravidian hold in TN; Adhikari leads BJP win in Bengal
Tamil cinema’s top actor C. Joseph Vijay’s fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Monday made a stunning electoral debut, emerging as the single largest party with 107 seats in the 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly election.
Taking on multi-party fronts led by two Dravidian majors (DMK and AIADMK), TVK, powered almost entirely by Vijay’s charisma, fell just 11 seats short of the halfway mark in the 234-member House. Vijay himself won from both Perambur and Tiruchi East.
The 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections have reached a crescendo, signalling a seismic shift in the state’s political order.
As BJP crosses the majority threshold, the focus remains fixed on Suvendu Adhikari, considered by many as the architect of this surge.
BJP’s Daochier wins Koridang by-poll
Correspondent
MOKOKCHUNG, MAY 4 (NPN): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has retained the 28 Koridang assembly constituency seat, with its candidate Daochier I. Imchen registering a decisive victory in the by-election, securing a substantial margin over his nearest rival.
Daochier I. Imchen, son of late Imkong L. Imchen who had represented the constituency, polled 7,317 votes out of a total 22,266 votes cast. He defeated Independent candidate Maj. (Retd) Toshikaba, who secured 4,194 votes, by a margin of 3,123 votes. Independent candidate Imtiwapang came third with 3,633 votes, followed by NPP candidate I. Abenjang with 3,219 votes. Independent candidate Imchatoba secured 147 votes, while Congress candidate T. Chalukumba polled 144 votes.
The election also recorded 48 NOTA votes and 43 rejected votes, reflecting an overall high participation rate. Altogether 18,745 votes were cast in the election. The by-election was necessitated following the demise of sitting BJP MLA Imkong L. Imchen.
Following the declaration of results, Daochier I. Imchen held a thanksgiving programme at his private residence in Mokokchung, where he expressed gratitude to God Almighty and the people of Koridang for their support and trust.
Describing the outcome as a “massive victory”, he said the mandate was not something he would take lightly, adding that the significant margin reflected the confidence reposed in him by the electorate. He said the victory also came with greater responsibility.
Appealing for unity, Daochier said he would strive to win the support and trust of those who did not vote for him. He called upon all sections of society, including his political opponents, to come forward with their ideas, aspirations and development agendas for the constituency.
Stating that he would represent all sections of the constituency, he assured that he would work with sincerity and commitment to ensure inclusive development.
He further expressed confidence in serving the people effectively under the guidance of the chief minister and deputy chief minister, and said he looked forward to learning from senior leaders to better serve the constituency.
Meanwhile, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Nagaland, has informed that counting of votes for the by-election to 28-Koridang assembly constituency was successfully completed on May 4, in the presence of contesting candidates, their election agents and counting agents.
Rio, NPF, Patton congratulate Daochier
Rio: In a post on X, chief minister Neiphiu Rio congratulated the PDA consensus candidate, Daochier Imchen of BJP, on winning the 28 Koridang A/C by-election. He said the mandate reflects public confidence in our shared vision. We remain committed to advancing development and progress, and are grateful for the support.
He also expressed grateful to the electorate for reposing faith in the PDA coalition, and appreciation to all the party workers of the alliance for their dedication and hard work. We are motivated to work harder for the all-round progress of Nagaland.
Patton: Expressing special thanks to the people of Koridang, deputy CM, Y. Patton appreciated their mandate in electing Daochier I. Imchen as MLA from the 28-Koridang Assembly constituency. He said the result reflected public confidence in the candidate and the leadership of the state.
He further thanked chief minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio for extending full support during the campaign and maintaining coordination within the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA). Patton also expressed gratitude to the people of Nagaland for their continued support to the alliance.
He acknowledged the role of BJP Nagaland president Benjamin Yepthomi and appreciated the guidance of national leaders, including B.L. Santosh, Sambit Patra and Anil K. Anthony.
Patton also thanked BJP and Naga People’s Front legislators for supporting the PDA consensus candidate and commended party workers for their efforts in reaching out to voters.
He assured that the trust placed by the people would be honoured through sincere work and continued focus on public welfare.
NPF: Naga People’s Front (NPF) has extended its congratulations to Daochier I. Imchen, the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) consensus candidate, on his victory in the by-election to 28-Koridang Assembly Constituency.
In a press release, NPF said the mandate reflected the people’s trust in his leadership, the PDA’s vision for development, and the collective commitment to peace and progress in the region. It described the victory as a result of hard work, grassroots connect and the confidence reposed by the electorate.
The party wished him success in his new responsibility and assured its cooperation in matters concerning public interest and development.