Early trends are emerging as counting of votes is underway for 293 Assembly seats in the Indian state of West Bengal, with the state heading into verdict day on May 4, 2026, following more than a month of intense campaigning.

After the ruling party of Emmanuel Macron, "Renaissance," failed in the European Parliament elections, the president decided to dissolve the parliament and hold early elections to give the French people a chance to express their views on his domestic and foreign policies.

France launched a frenzied election campaign on Monday, called by President Emmanuel Macron to counter the far right, as football star Kylian Mbappe warned that the country was at a crucial juncture, News.Az reports citing AFP.