Vote counting also got underway in the states of Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, and in the federally administered territory of Puducherry.

Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), led by chief minister MK Stalin, was ahead in 49 constituencies, the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) led in 55 seats, while TVK candidates were leading in 111 seats in the 234-member assembly, as per the trends around 4pm Malaysia time.

TVK’s strong showing is seen as a sea change in Tamil Nadu’s politics, which hitherto has been dominated by the AIADMK and the DMK.

In the eastern state of West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) surged ahead of chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) following a bitter contest.

The BJP’s big gains have shocked many in the state bordering Bangladesh. Trends available on the Election Commission’s website showed the party leading in 188 seats versus 94 for the TMC in the 294-member legislature.

In Assam, another border state that has been under a decade-long BJP control, the Hindu nationalist party looked poised to retain power.

In the southern state of Kerala, the Indian National Congress is set to deny the ruling Left Democratic Front a third term in office.

Congress candidates led 61 of the 140 assembly seats while the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a Congress ally, was ahead in 23 places.

Final figures are not expected until late at night.