Vote counting for assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry begins at 8 a.m. on May 4, 2026, following single-phase polls in Tamil Nadu on April 23 and multi-phase voting in West Bengal. Key contests include DMK-led alliance versus AIADMK in Tamil Nadu's disputed 234-seat assembly and TMC versus BJP in West Bengal's 294 seats, amid high voter turnouts. Coverage is limited to left-center sources, raising concerns over perspective balance.