NEW DELHI: Assam assembly elections concluded in one phase on April 9, recording a turnout of over 85%, one of the highest in recent years. In a crucial contest in Assam, the Bharatiya Janata Party, under chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, is seeking a third straight term. Meanwhile, the Congress has mounted a determined effort to regain ground in the state, led by Gaurav Gogoi, son of former chief minister Tarun Gogoi and currently the deputy leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha.

When and where to watch

Early trends will start to take shape from 8am on May 4 as counting begins across all 126 constituencies in the state. Real-time data will be available on the Election Commission’s website, along with live updates, analysis, and seat counts on The Times of India.Follow full coverage of elections here

What exit polls predict

Exit polls released on Wednesday evening for the closely watched Assam contest suggest a clear majority for the incumbent government led by Himanta Biswa Sarma, with most pollsters backing the BJP to win a third consecutive term in the tea-producing state. The projections place the Congress on the sidelines, leaving the party in a weaker position and offering little boost to its campaign led by Gaurav Gogoi in Assam. Overall, estimates from various agencies indicate a comfortable victory for the BJP-led government, pointing to a likely third straight term for the party under Himanta Biswa Sarma.

How counting is done

The counting process is carried out in an organised and closely supervised manner. It begins with the counting of postal ballots, after which votes recorded in Electronic Voting Machines are taken up. For each constituency, counting happens in several rounds, with updates released after every round. Once all rounds are finished and verified, the returning officer announces the final result. Security at counting centres is strict, with strong rooms under constant guard and entry limited to authorised personnel and representatives of candidates. While Electronic Voting Machines enable quicker vote tabulation, the need for verification and round-by-round counting means the entire process continues throughout the day.