West Bengal Exit Polls 2026: What is a hung assembly, and what happens if no party has a clear majority?
In West Bengal, the pollsters are divided, with the majority of the exit polls projecting a BJP win, be it with a very close margin. A close contest between the BJP and TMC could result in a hung assembly in West Bengal.
After a nearly a month-long electoral process, voting in the assembly elections across five states, Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal concluded on Wednesday. While the assembly elections for Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry were held on April 9, Tamil Nadu went to the polling booth on April 23. Among the five states, only West Bengal had a multi-phase vote on April 23 and 29. Results of all five state assembly elections will be announced on May 4.
West Bengal exit polls
But as the voting concluded in West Bengal, the exit poll results are already out, with the BJP projected as clear winners in Assam and Puducherry, while DMK is set to retain power in Tamil Nadu. According to the pollsters, the Congress-led UDF is set to return to power in Kerala after being in the opposition for ten years.
In the most high-profile elections, in West Bengal, the pollsters are divided, with the majority of them projecting a BJP win, be it with a very close margin. A close contest between the BJP and TMC could result in a hung assembly in West Bengal.
What is a hung assembly?
A hung assembly or hung parliament is a situation in which no party or pre-poll alliance is able to secure a majority. To form a government party or an alliance should have a simple majority, which is one seat more than the halfway mark. In the case of West Bengal, a simple majority in the assembly requires winning 148 seats out of the total 294 seats.
What happens if there is a hung assembly?
The leader of the single-largest party or alliance is invited by the Governor to form the next government and is given 10 days to show a majority. If the party is unable to show its majority, the Governor has the power to dissolve the assembly and call for re-election.
However, before this could happen, as history has shown, parties attempt several 11th-hour options, including post-poll alliances and forming a minority government, where the party governs with outside support. (first AAP government in Delhi in 2013 which lasted for 49 days)
Such alliances often lead to smaller parties bargaining for top posts, including, in some cases, for that of the Chief Minister or Deputy Chief Minister (HD Kumaraswamy in Karnataka between 2018-19). Such governments are also often unstable and could be brought down by a no-confidence vote before their term ends.
- A hung assembly occurs when no party or alliance secures a majority of seats, complicating governance.
- The Governor plays a crucial role in inviting the largest party to form a government, which may lead to post-poll alliances.
- Minority governments formed through outside support can be unstable and may face challenges such as no-confidence votes.
About the Author
Bobins loves telling the human side of all stories, from the intersection of geopolitics, international relations, and conflicts around the world. In his nearly one-and-a-half-decade career as a journalist, Bobins has covered South Asia, the Middle East, and North America, from elections to mass protests and conflicts. <br> Bobins has also done extensive reporting on environmental issues, climate change, and sustainability, focusing on solutions and people working to make the planet a better place to live. <br> In 2018, Bobins was awarded by Times Internet for the impact of his story on Delhi tree cuttings. Bobins also loves telling the stories of Indian startups and the journey of their founders. <br> Total Years of Experience: 14 <br> Years of experience at LM: Bobins has been a part of Live Mint since February 2026 <br> Interests: When he is not tracking conflicts, Bobins loves to cook, travel across India, click photos, and watch documentaries on history. Past Experience: Before joining Live Mint, Bobins worked with The Indian Express, where he led the Global Breaking News coverage, Indiatimes, where he led the news team, covering everything trending, ANI, where the focus of his coverage was South Asia, and NBS News. <br> Current Role: Bobins is currently working as an Assistant Editor at Live Mint.
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