While West Bengal has witnessed dramatic scenes following the Election Commission's order for repolling in Falta, Diamond Harbour and Magrahat Paschim, the focus now shifts to whether the ruling parties can hold their ground against aggressive opposition challenges.

The electoral process, which spanned from April 9 to April 29, saw 823 seats up for grabs. Kerala, Assam and Puducherry voted in a single phase on April 9, while Tamil Nadu and the first phase of Bengal followed on April 23. The final phase concluded on April 29. Monday's tally will decide if Mamata Banerjee retains power in Bengal, while exit polls suggest a major shift in Tamil Nadu and a potential comeback for the UDF in Kerala.

Exit Poll projections: A snapshot

• West Bengal: Most pollsters predict a major surge for the BJP, posing a direct threat to the TMC's decade-long rule. However, some surveys suggest Mamata Banerjee might still secure a majority. Notably, Axis My India declined to release a forecast for Bengal, citing that 70% of voters refused to disclose their preference, making an accurate prediction impossible.
• Kerala: A majority of exit polls project a victory for the Congress-led UDF, with Axis My India estimating 78-90 seats and others predicting up to 94 seats. In the 140-member House, where 71 is the majority, the ruling LDF is projected to fall to 44-62 seats. The BJP-led NDA is expected to remain a minor player.
• Assam: This is the only state where pollsters are unanimous in predicting a return for the incumbent government. The BJP-led NDA is projected to sweep 88-100 seats, leaving the Congress-led alliance with just 24-36 seats.
• Tamil Nadu: While the DMK-led alliance was expected to dominate, actor Vijay's TVK party has emerged as a potential "blockbuster" disruptor, drawing comparisons to MG Ramachandran's historic 1977 rise. Axis My India predicts TVK could win between 98-120 seats, potentially pushing the DMK (92-100 seats) and AIADMK (22-32 seats) into a secondary role.
• Puducherry: Projections indicate the NDA is likely to retain power, with People's Pulse estimating 15-19 seats in the 30-member assembly.

High drama and security concerns

The battle in West Bengal has been particularly intense. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee recently spent four hours at the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra counting centre following allegations of EVM tampering. TMC leaders, including Shashi Panja and Kunal Ghosh, staged protests claiming CCTV footage showed outsiders accessing ballot papers.

In response, the Election Commission ordered repolling in 15 booths across Diamond Harbour and Magrahat Paschim (completed on May 2), while the entire Falta constituency will undergo a repoll on May 21, with results there expected on 24 May.

A milestone for women in Tamil Nadu

A historic highlight of this election was the record participation of women in Tamil Nadu. Out of nearly 1,000 nominations, 443 women officially contested the April 23 polls-the highest ever in the state's history. This surge, driven largely by independent candidates and smaller parties, signals a shifting tide in the traditionally male-dominated Dravidian political landscape.