Who won the 2026 state elections
Updated 23 Oct 2026. State elections are a standing exam theme: examiners ask who the new chief ministers are, which constitutional articles govern elections and government formation, and what the majority mark is in each assembly. Kerala's renaming as Keralam, which followed in August, adds an Article 3 question on how a state's name is changed.
Chief ministers sworn in, May 2026 (counting 4 May)
| State | Chief Minister | Sworn in | Majority mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Bengal | Suvendu Adhikari | 9 May | 148 of 294 |
| Tamil Nadu | C. Joseph Vijay | 10 May | 118 of 234 |
| Assam | Himanta Biswa Sarma (second term) | 12 May | 64 of 126 |
| Kerala | V.D. Satheesan | 18 May | 71 of 140 |
What an exam could ask
- Match the chief minister to the state could be asked for the four states that changed or renewed governments in May 2026.
- The constitutional process for renaming Kerala as Keralam could be asked, with Article 3 and the Odisha precedent.
- Election Commission powers under Article 324 could be asked alongside the Supreme Court's May 2026 ruling on the Bihar Special Intensive Revision.
- A numbers question could test assembly strengths and majority marks or the counting date.
- Earlier history could be attached: the first chief minister of West Bengal, the 1957 Kerala government, or the first actor chief minister of Tamil Nadu.
Angles to revise, not predictions.
What happened
Five assemblies voted in April 2026 and were counted on 4 May. In West Bengal the BJP won about 207 of 294 seats, ending 15 years of Trinamool rule; Suvendu Adhikari became the state's first BJP chief minister on 9 May. In Tamil Nadu, Vijay's TVK won 108 of 234 and he was sworn in on 10 May with support from other parties, the first government in decades led by neither the DMK nor the AIADMK. Himanta Biswa Sarma took a second term in Assam on 12 May. In Kerala the UDF returned after a decade; V.D. Satheesan became chief minister on 18 May. Puducherry's result is not covered here.
Words to know
- Article 324
- Vests the superintendence, direction and control of elections in the Election Commission of India.
- Article 164
- The Governor appoints the Chief Minister; other ministers are appointed on the Chief Minister's advice.
- Majority marks
- West Bengal 148 of 294; Tamil Nadu 118 of 234; Kerala 71 of 140; Assam 64 of 126.
- Tenth Schedule
- The anti-defection law, added by the 52nd Amendment in 1985, which can disqualify legislators who switch parties.
- Article 3
- Lets Parliament change a state's name or boundaries by ordinary law after the state legislature gives its views; it is not a constitutional amendment under Article 368. Earlier examples: Madras State to Tamil Nadu (1969), Orissa to Odisha (2011).
- Seat tallies (as reported)
- West Bengal: BJP 207 (some reports 206), TMC 80. Tamil Nadu: TVK 108, DMK 59, AIADMK 47. Kerala: Congress 63, UDF roughly 100 (reports range 97 to 103). Assam: BJP 82, NDA 102.
- State firsts
- West Bengal's first chief minister was Prafulla Chandra Ghosh (1947); Jyoti Basu served 23 years (1977 to 2000). E.M.S. Namboodiripad led India's first elected communist state government in Kerala in 1957. M.G. Ramachandran was the first film actor to become Tamil Nadu chief minister (1977).
Full timeline
Union Cabinet approves renaming Kerala as Keralam, starting the Article 3 process
Assam, Kerala and Puducherry vote; Tamil Nadu on 23 April; West Bengal on 23 and 29 April
Counting: BJP wins West Bengal, UDF wins Kerala, TVK largest in Tamil Nadu, BJP retains Assam
Suvendu Adhikari sworn in as West Bengal chief minister at Brigade Parade Ground, Kolkata
C. Joseph Vijay sworn in as Tamil Nadu chief minister in Chennai; asked to prove his majority by 13 May
Himanta Biswa Sarma sworn in for a second term as Assam chief minister in Guwahati
V.D. Satheesan sworn in as Kerala chief minister in Thiruvananthapuram with 20 ministers
Supreme Court upholds the Election Commission's power to hold the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, under Article 324 (ruling reported by a single outlet)
Kerala officially becomes Keralam under the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Act 2026
Sources
- https://www.dtnext.in/news/national/union-cabinet-approves-renaming-of-kerala-as-keralam
- https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/union-cabinet-approves-renaming-kerala-as-keralam
- https://www.barandbench.com/amp/story/news/union-cabinet-approves-proposal-to-rename-kerala-as-keralam
- https://www.outlookindia.com/national/cabinet-clears-proposal-to-rename-kerala-as-keralam
- https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2026/03/15/assam-west-bengal-kerala-tamil-nadu-and-puducherry-election-commission-announces-poll-dates-for-four-states-1-ut-174-crore-voters-to-decide-new-assemblies.amp.html
- https://www.wionews.com/india-news/assembly-elections-2026-ec-announces-poll-dates-for-west-bengal-tamil-nadu-kerala-assam-and-puducherry-1773573754642/amp
- https://www.freepressjournal.in/amp/india/assembly-elections-2026-full-schedule-for-west-bengal-tamil-nadu-kerala-assam-puducherry
- https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/assembly-elections-2026-check-complete-party-wise-seats-in-west-bengal-tamil-nadu-assam-kerala-puducherry-2026-05-05-1039978
- https://scroll.in/latest/1092579/bengal-results-mamata-banerjee-leads-bjps-suvendu-adhikari-in-bhabanipur
- https://www.wionews.com/india-news/keralam-assembly-polls-congress-led-udf-wins-97-of-140-seats-returns-to-power-after-a-decade-1777914645493
- https://www.thehitavada.com/Encyc/2026/5/25/bjp-wins-wbs-falta-assembly-seat-by-over-109-lakh-votes.html
- https://www.thestatesman.com/india/tamil-nadu-results-2026-tvk-surges-past-100-seats-aiadmk-regains-ground-as-dmk-slips-to-third-position-in-trends-1503589482.html
- https://www.thequint.com/news/breaking-news/suvendu-adhikari-sworn-in-bjp-chief-minister
- https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/india/suvendu-takes-oath-as-bengals-1st-bjp-cm-as-brigade-ground-witnesses-historic-saffron-turn/
- https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2026/05/09/suvendu-adhikari-set-to-take-oath-as-cm-heralding-new-bjp-era-in-west-bengal.amp.html
- https://www.thestatesman.com/bengal/bjp-leader-suvendu-adhikari-takes-oath-as-the-chief-minister-of-west-bengal-1503591703.html
- https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2026/05/09/vijay-to-take-oath-as-cm-at-10-am-tomorrow-will-seek-vote-of-confidence-before-may-13.amp.html
- https://www.adaderana.lk/news/122306/vijay-sworn-in-as-tamil-nadu-chief-minister
- https://newsonair.gov.in/tvk-founder-c-joseph-vijay-to-take-oath-as-tamil-nadu-chief-minister-today/
- https://www.dailypioneer.com/news/c-joseph-vijay-takes-oath-as-tamil-nadu-chief-minister-promises-new-era-of-governance-
- https://wionews.com/india-news/himanta-biswa-sarma-takes-oath-as-assam-s-cm-for-consecutive-term-1778567331079
- https://newsonair.gov.in/senior-bjp-leader-himanta-biswa-sarma-to-be-sworn-in-as-cm-of-assam-in-guwahati-today/
- https://www.thehitavada.com/Encyc/2026/5/13/himanta-takes-oath-for-2nd-term-4-mlas-sworn-in-as-ministers.html
- https://www.thenewsminute.com/amp/story/kerala/congress-leader-vd-satheesan-takes-oath-as-kerala-cm-with-20-member-cabinet
- https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/asia/kerala-cm-satheesan-takes-oath-as-congress-led-udf-regains-power-after-10-years-2?amp=1
- https://www.thequint.com/amp/story/news/breaking-news/kerala-cabinet-vd-satheesan-final-ministers-list
- https://thesouthfirst.com/beyond-south/supreme-court-upholds-special-intensive-revision-says-exercise-serves-free-and-fair-polls/
- https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/sc-reserves-verdict-on-bihar-sir-1933576
- https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2026/08/26/its-official-kerala-is-now-keralam-as-centre-notifies-name-change.html
- https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/government-notifies-keralam-as-keralas-new-name-from-tuesday-1982258
- https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/kerala-is-now-officially-keralam-as-union-govt-notifies-name-change
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Test yourself
1.Which Article vests superintendence, direction and control of elections in the Election Commission of India?
Correct. Article 324 gives the Election Commission control of elections. Article 164 deals with the appointment of the Chief Minister.
Not quite. Article 324 gives the Election Commission control of elections. Article 164 deals with the appointment of the Chief Minister. It goes into your error book.
2.Parliament can change a state's name by ordinary law under which Article?
Correct. Article 3 allows a name or boundary change after the state legislature gives its views. Kerala became Keralam on 25 August 2026.
Not quite. Article 3 allows a name or boundary change after the state legislature gives its views. Kerala became Keralam on 25 August 2026. It goes into your error book.
3.In a 294-seat assembly, what is the majority mark?
Correct. Half of 294 is 147, so a majority needs 148. West Bengal's mark is 148 of 294.
Not quite. Half of 294 is 147, so a majority needs 148. West Bengal's mark is 148 of 294. It goes into your error book.
4.Orissa was renamed Odisha, a name change like Kerala to Keralam, in which year?
Correct. Orissa became Odisha in 2011. Madras State became Tamil Nadu in 1969.
Not quite. Orissa became Odisha in 2011. Madras State became Tamil Nadu in 1969. It goes into your error book.
5.Under Article 164, who appoints the Chief Minister of a state?
Correct. Article 164: the Governor appoints the Chief Minister, and other ministers on the Chief Minister's advice.
Not quite. Article 164: the Governor appoints the Chief Minister, and other ministers on the Chief Minister's advice. It goes into your error book.