Elections 2026 round-up: Vijay's victory aligns with Trisha's birthday, Mamata Banerjee loses Bengal to Modi-Shah duo

The 2026 assembly election results across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry have significantly reshaped India's political landscape, highlighting both major breakthroughs and notable setbacks for key leaders.

Top Winners

Vijay: The actor-turned-politician made a powerful political debut in Tamil Nadu with his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), emerging as a major force and disrupting the state's traditional political order.

Today happens to be actor Trisha's birthday, and rumours are rife that she is dating Vijay.

On Monday, Trisha was clicked outside TVK (Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam) chief and actor Vijay's residence in Chennai at around 1:30 pm. While making an exit when paps hovered around her she smiled and blushed.

Narendra Modi and Amit Shah: The BJP leadership strengthened its position, making strong inroads in states like West Bengal and Assam.

Himanta Biswa Sarma: Consolidated his dominance in Assam, helping the BJP retain and strengthen its hold in the state.

V. D. Satheesan and Rahul Gandhi: Played key roles in the resurgence of the Congress-led alliance in Kerala.

Suvendu Adhikari: Strengthened his influence in West Bengal amid shifting political dynamics.

Top Losers

Mamata Banerjee: Faced a major setback as her party lost significant ground in West Bengal, weakening her political stronghold.

M. K. Stalin: Suffered a decline in Tamil Nadu as new political forces, especially TVK, disrupted the existing dominance.

Pinarayi Vijayan: Lost momentum as Kerala returned to its pattern of alternating governments, reflecting anti-incumbency.

Gaurav Gogoi: Failed to make a significant impact in Assam, with the Congress struggling to counter the BJP.

Edappadi K. Palaniswami: Continued decline of AIADMK as it lost relevance amid emerging political players in Tamil Nadu.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday spoke to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, DMK supremo MK Stalin and TVK leader Vijay regarding the Assembly 2026 election results in their respective states, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said.

In a post on X Ramesh shared the details of the conversation, stating, "This evening, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha @RahulGandhi spoke to Mamata Banerjee-ji and Thiru MK Stalin about the election results. He also congratulated the President of the TVK Thiru Vijay on the party's performance."

Earlier, he expressed gratitude to the people of Keralam for giving the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) a decisive mandate in the state.

In a statement on X, Ramesh said that the Indian National Congress acknowledges the responsibility entrusted by the voters and assured that the party will live up to their expectations.

"The Indian National Congress extends heartfelt thanks to the people of Kerala for giving the UDF the opportunity to serve with a massive majority. We recognize our responsibility and will honour the trust placed in us," he said.

However, he noted that the party's performance in other regions fell short of expectations. Despite this, the Congress leadership remains resolute.

"Apart from Keralam, the other results that have come in fall short of our expectations. But we are neither discouraged nor disheartened. We are fighting a battle of ideologies. The path of fighting for democracy and truth against authoritarianism and lies is always long and arduous. However, we will continue to move forward with resolve and steadfast determination", he said.

Ramesh also informed that a detailed review of the election results will be conducted soon. The process of sending party observers to Kerala has already begun, he added.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan submits his resignation to Governor

Bringing the curtain down on a defining chapter in Kerala politics, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday night submitted his resignation to Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar, hours after the CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) suffered an unprecedented electoral drubbing.

The Governor asked Vijayan to continue till the new Chief Minister assumes office.

The LDF was reduced to 35 seats, while the Congress-led UDF won 102 seats, and the BJP three.

The resignation formally ends a decade-long tenure that saw Vijayan emerge as the longest-serving Chief Minister of the state, straddling two consecutive terms since 2016.

His re-election in 2021 had broken Kerala's long-standing pattern of alternating governments, cementing his position as one of the most formidable leaders in the state's political history.

Yet, the exit comes on a distinctly sour note.

The scale of the defeat marks a historic low for the LDF, raising serious questions about governance, anti-incumbency, and the party's connect with voters after ten uninterrupted years in power.

Vijayan, who cultivated an image of administrative firmness and centralised decision making, presided over a period marked by both crisis management and controversy from handling successive floods and the pandemic to facing sustained opposition attacks over corruption allegations and governance style.

Even as the LDF begins introspection, attention is now turning to Vijayan's next political move.

With his stature within the party and legislative experience, speculation is rife over whether he will assume the role of Leader of the Opposition in the newly elected Assembly.

For now, the resignation marks not just a routine transfer of power, but the end of an era that reshaped Kerala's political landscape, one that began with historic promise and concludes with an equally historic setback.

Vijayan's reversal comes just short of two weeks before he turns 82. In May 2016, just before he took office as Chief Minister, at a press meet, he distributed sweets to the media and asked if anyone knew why this was being done. When no one ventured an answer, he said it was because it is his birthday.