Tirupati, May 10 (IANS) Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday visited the renowned Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati along with his family and offered prayers to Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy following the successful and peaceful conduct of the 2026 Assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry.

The Chief Election Commissioner, accompanied by his wife, Anuradha Kumar, paid obeisance at the temple on Sunday morning after overseeing one of the biggest electoral exercises of the year.

The 2026 Assembly elections in the five regions were closely watched nationwide due to their major political significance and high-stakes contests involving national and regional parties. The results were declared on May 4 after voting was conducted in multiple phases throughout April.

In a historic political development, the BJP formed the government in West Bengal for the first time, with Suvendu Adhikari taking oath as Chief Minister, bringing an end to the long rule of the Trinamool Congress in the state.

In Tamil Nadu, actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay emerged as a major political force and assumed office as Chief Minister, marking a significant shift in the state’s political landscape, traditionally dominated by Dravidian parties.

The BJP retained power in Assam under the leadership of Himanta Biswa Sarma, overcoming anti-incumbency and securing another term in office.

In Kerala, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) swept away the Left Democratic Front (LDF), which had two stints, while the BJP managed to open its account in the state Assembly again with three seats.

Meanwhile, in Puducherry, the AINRC-led NDA alliance retained power for a second consecutive term under Chief Minister N. Rangasamy.

The Election Commission had announced the poll schedule in March, with extensive security and administrative arrangements ensuring smooth and peaceful polling across all five regions.

–IANS

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