'Bloody hell': Omar Abdullah shocked as BJP crosses halfway mark in Bengal; Vijay’s TVK goes past 100 seat mark in TN

Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Omar appeared visibly surprised by the emerging trends, particularly in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

Updated on: May 4, 2026, 12:17:52 IST

Written by Shubham Pandey

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As vote counting is underway in five states, Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah reacted in a rather interesting manner. Counting is taking place in five states - West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Assam, and Kerala. Except for Assam and Puducherry, where the BJP government is likely to return to power, changes appear likely in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Kerala.

J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah is 'shocked' to see some of the counting trends in 5 states, including Bengal and Tamil Nadu. (Agencies)

According to trends till 11.30 am on counting day, the BJP had crossed the halfway mark in West Bengal and looked set to surpass the decisive figure of 148 seats needed to form the government.

Meanwhile, in Kerala, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) appeared poised to replace the LDF-led government. In Tamil Nadu, TVK, led by actor Vijay, seemed to be heading for a historic debut, having crossed the 100-seat mark in the 234-member Assembly, where 118 seats are required for a majority.

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Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Omar appeared visibly surprised by the emerging trends, particularly in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

Reacting on X, he posted “bloody hell” along with a shocked emoji, reflecting his reaction to the unexpected trends unfolding in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.

According to many pollsters, West Bengal was projected to witness a BJP government for the first time, though a few had given the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) a slight edge. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had dismissed the exit polls, alleging they were designed to influence the stock market.

The BJP had already begun celebrations, distributing sweets in the Bhabanipur assembly constituency as well as at its party office in Delhi.

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In Tamil Nadu, most pollsters had predicted a victory for M. K. Stalin’s Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), with one exception. Axis My India was the only agency to project nearly 120 seats for Vijay’s TVK. By 12 pm on counting day, TVK was leading in 135 seats.

In Kerala, the Indian National Congress was leading in 58 constituencies, followed by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) in 22.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shubham Pandey
Shubham Pandey works as Chief Content Producer at the Hindustan Times online desk, where he writes news articles, explainers, and features with a focus on audience engagement, traffic growth, and real-time storytelling. With over a decade of experience across journalism, digital newsrooms, and strategic communications, he brings a strong understanding of online journalism, particularly in leveraging SEO, search trends, and live blogs to drive sustained reader engagement. Previously, he led the sports team at Zee News English, strengthening editorial operations while delivering measurable growth in readership. His reporting experience includes assignments with Firstpost, where he covered sports with a strong narrative focus. Shubham has worked across both startups and large media organisations, including building a sports website from the ground up in a startup environment—demonstrating versatility and leadership. His stint as Senior Account Manager at Edelman India further expanded his expertise in strategic communications, brand storytelling, and reputation management. Across roles, he specialises in content planning, writing, and crafting credible narratives for diverse audiences. He has collaborated with former international cricketers Cheteshwar Pujara, Nick Knight, and Danny Morrison to create compelling, high-impact sports content, blending editorial depth with mass appeal. When he is not writing news or watching sports, he enjoys exploring films from around the world.Read More

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