Round-up: Three states were set to beat anti-incumbency on Sunday, with Mamata Banerjee emerging star of the day to lead her TMC to triumph in West Bengal for a third consecutive term. At the same time, the BJP was poised for a return in Assam, as was the LDF in Kerala, Election Commission trends indicated.

Till evening, only a handful of results had been declared for the four states and one union territory. But, as votes were counted with strict Covid protocols in place, the trends pointed to a win for Tamil Nadu’s opposition DMK-led alliance over the ruling AIADMK. In Puducherry, the AINRC-led NDA was headed towards power.

The cynosure of the elections, held over March and April as the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic picked up pace to finally ravage large parts of the country, was the high-stakes, acrimonious Trinamool Congress-BJP contest in West Bengal that had dominated headlines, drawing room conversations and political discourse.

7.30 pm

 

Kerala: Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy (Congress-UDF) wins by a margin of 9,044 votes from Puthupally.

Kerala Health minister K K Shailaja wins by a record margin of 60,963 votes from Mattannur. - PTI

'Metroman' E Sreedharan (BJP) loses to Shafi Parambil (Cong) by margin of 3,859 votes in Palakkad. PTI

 

6.18 pm

Maharashtra by-poll: In a setback to the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the state, BJP candidate Samadhan Autade on Sunday won the by-election to Pandharpur-Mangalvedha Assembly seat in Solapur district by defeating his nearest NCP rival by a margin of over 3,700 votes.

6.10 pm

TN trends: After round 23, in Coimbatore South constituency BJP's Vanathi Srinivasan leads by 890 votes over MNM president Kamal Hasan.

5.55 pm

Tirupati LS by-poll: The ruling YSR Congress on Sunday secured a thumping victory in the by-election to the Tirupati (SC) Lok Sabha constituency, trouncing the main opposition Telugu Desam Party by a record margin of over 2.70 lakh votes.

YSRCs M Gurumoorthy defeated former Union Minister of State Panabaka Lakshmi of the TDP by a margin of over 14 per cent votes.

5.46 pm

TN trends: BJP opens its account in Tamil Nadu. Its  Nagarcoil candidate M R Gandhi defeated the DMK candidate by about 14,500 votes.

5.36 pm

West Bengal: This is a victory for Bengal, for the people of Bengal: Mamata to party supporters after trends indicate TMC heading for a huge win.

5.15 pm

TN trends: After a decade in opposition, the DMK is on course to capturing power from the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu as per the trends made available for the 234 segments, while the incumbent ruling party appears set to win a chunk of seats that would make it a formidable opposition.

As counting of votes progressed on Sunday, the DMK steadily improved its position and led in 121 seats, while 118 is the minimum number required for a simple majority in the 234-member House.

4.56 pm

Bengal pollls: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday congratulated Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, as trends suggested her party would register a thumping victory in the West Bengal assembly polls.

"Congratulations to the Chief Minister of West Bengal, @MamataOfficial Didi on her partys victory in West Bengal assembly elections. My best wishes to her for her next tenure," the senior BJP leader tweeted.

4.48 pm

Kerala trends: The ruling CPI (M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) is set to create history as it appeared to retain power for a rare second term in Kerala, the first outgoing coalition government in 40 years to achieve the feat.

When reports last came in, the LDF was leading in 99 seats (91 in the outgoing Assembly); the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in 41 (47); while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was not leading in any seat, including Nemom, the lone seat it held in the outgoing Assembly.

4.35 pm

Rajasthan by-polls: BJP wins Rajsamand assembly seat; Cong leading in two constituencies

4.21 pm

TN trends:  Now, DMK leads in 125 and AIADMK in 77 seats. BJP leads only in two seats, while Congress is ahead in 16 seats

4.08 pm

TN trends: Senior BJP leader and former union minister Pon Radhakrishnan was trailing by a margin of 1,11,491 votes against his rival Vijay Vasanth of the Congress in the Kanyakumari Lok Sabha constituency.

The by-poll was necessitated following the death of Congress-veteran H Vasantha Kumar last year due to Covid-19.

CPI candidate Marimuthu wins the Thiruthuraipoondi constituency by defeating the AIADMK candidate.

3.55 pm

Tamil Nadu:   As per the official data, the latest status for 234 seats in Tamil Nadu indicates the DMK leads in 120 seats, while AIADMK in 81 constituencies. Congress is ahead in 15, while PMK leads only in 6 seats. BJP continues to lead in 4 seats. VCK is ahead in 3. CPI and CPI(M) lead in 2 seats each.

In the latest round, DMK's senior leader Duraimurugan now leads by a couple of thousands of votes in the Katpadi constituency.

3.47 pm

Puducherry:   In Puducherry, BJP candidate A Namasivayam won the Mannadipet seat.

Tamil Nadu: DMK Chief's son Udhayanidhi Stalin leads by a margin of more than 31,300 votes in the Chepauk Thiruvallikeni Assembly constituency in Chennai.

TN BJP Chief L Murugan trails by 170 votes in Dharapuram constituency.

3.40 pm

Election consultant Prashant Kishor says he is "quitting this space" and not strategise for parties any more. - PTI

3.33 pm

Kerala trends:  LDF 100-UDF 40: It's sweet revenge for Pinarayi, who had asserted that he would 'close' NDA's account in Kerala. NDA is seen forfeiting its lone Nemom seat won by O Rajagopal in 2016, with only a few rounds and postal ballots to count in the 2021 elections. Kerala trends.

Palakkad yet to be called, but E Sreedharan (NDA) trails by 2,657 votes. Kerala trends.

3.27 pm

West Bengal: BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on Sunday credited Mamata Banerjee for the TMC's astounding performance in Bengal elections, and said his party would introspect the poll results.

3.18 pm

Kerala trends:  NDA disappoints after promising a spectacular show with BJP president K Surendran asserting that it will sail into double digits and predicting a hung assembly in Kerala. However, he lost both seats he contested, but the NDA also lost its lone seat in the Assembly.

Former CM Oommen Chandy scrapes through with a much-reduced margin of 8,504 in Puthuppalli. Reflects plight of UDF

E Sreedharan (NDA) trails by 2,657 votes. Palakkad. Kerala trends.

3.10 pm

Tamil Nadu: BJP now leading in five seats in Tamil Nadu.

DMK leads now down to 116 seats - one short of a simple majority on its own in the 234 member Tamil Nadu Assembly.

In Kovilpatti, TTV Dhinakaran is now trailing over 1,000 votes from sitting MLA and Minister Kadambur Raju.

It looks like there is no significant swing in Tamil Nadu, with the difference between the DMK and the AIADMK in vote share, was just 3 per cent, while opinion and exit polls suggested being nearly 10 per cent.

3:00 pm

Puducherry: BJP opens its account in Puducherry Assembly with its candidate  John Kumar winning the Kamaraj Nagar by pulling as 56 per cent of polled votes, against Congress candidate Shajahan.

Kerala: LDF within striking distance of hitting a 'century.' Outgoing health minister KK Shailaja raises lead to 61,000, the highest for any till now.

2.44 PM

Kerala:  NDA is likely to lose it's lone seat in the Assembly. Kummanam Rajasekharan (NDA) trails by 2500+ in Nemom, the only seat it held in the Assembly. A strong LDF wave is seen in Kerala. Congress-led UDF is almost losing the massive ground. NDA is likely to draw a blank.

Metroman E Sreedharan was in lead until the last few rounds. He almost lived up to the NDA gameplan of creating a major upset in Palakkad. But he trails by 2275 votes behind sitting UDF candidate.

LDF-97; UDF-43; NDA-0

Tamil Nadu: In Katpadi, DMK heavyweight Duraimurugan is trailing over V Ramu of the AIADMK by 2,722 votes.

In Kovilpatti, a tough fight is going on with minister Kadambur Raju of the AIADMK leading by just 19 votes over Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazhagam founder TTV Dhinakaran.

In Kanniyakumari by-poll, Vijaykumar of the Congress leading by 95,193 votes over Pon Radhakrishnan of the BJP.

2.30 PM

Tamil Nadu: Actor-turned-politician and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan maintains his lead in Coimbatore (South) over Mayura S Jayakumar of the Congress by 2,702 votes.

Going by the current trend in ECI website, the BJP is leading in four constituencies in Tamil Nadu.

Gujarat : Ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) won the bypolls for Morva Hadaf Assembly constituency in Gujarat's Panchmahal district on Sunday.

BJP's candidate Nimisha Suthar secured over 67,000 votes to gain a comfortable margin of 45,432 votes against her Congress rival Suresh Katara, who secured 21,669 votes. Independent candidate had received 2,366 votes, while 1566 votes went to NOTA.

Morva Hadaf is a reserved seat for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidate.

2.15 PM

TN: Tamil Nadu CM Edapaddi K Palaniswami; Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam  and DMK leader MK Stalin leading in their respective seats. In Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni, DMK leader MK Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi Stalin is leading over AVA Kassali of Pattali Makkal Katch by 21,841 votes.

First victory officially announced in TN. AIADMK candidate Kandasamy won the Valparai Assembly seat.

Puducherry: BJP candidate John Kumar has won the Kamaraj Nagar seat in Puducherry.

photo2021-05-0214-26-07jpg
 

Kerala: Spectre of NDA drawing a blank in Kerala. Lone seat of Nemom has LDF in lead. Focus now on Palakkad where E Sreedharan loses lead.

E Sreedharan trails by 500 votes. Palakkad. Kerala trends.

LDF-95; UDF-45; NDA-0

2.03 PM

Kerala: Kummanam Rajasekharan (NDA) in Nemom conceded lead to LDF. Photo finish in Thrissur with Suresh Gopi (NDA)) in contention. E Sreedharan (NDA) maintains lead in Palakkad. Manjeswar too signals photo finish (K Surendran).

Kummanam is trailing by 2,330 votes behind LDF's V Sivankutty in Nemom. Around five more rounds are left in Nemom. Both contenders claim equal influence in each.

Meanwhile, there are other eight seats still too close to call. LDF is a contender in quite a few.  Strong LDF wave for a rare second term against odds. Almost nil anti-incumbency.

Counting in Palakkad down to last two panchayats. E Sreedharan sees further erosion in lead to just 1,000+ from a high of 7,000.

LDF-96. UDF-43. NDA-1.

1.50 PM

The Election Commission has taken serious note of some reports of people celebrating victory. The Commission said it has directed chief secretaries of all five States to file FIR in each such case, suspend SHO of the concerned Police Stations and report action taken immediately of each such incidence.

Despite repeated warnings from the Madras High Court  against any celebrations on the  voting day, a large number of DMK cadres gathered at the party Head Quarters even as the alliance  is leading in over 130 seats. Many were seen without masks and no social distancing.

1.33 PM

Assam: Leads of all 126 seats are still available from Assam even after about five rounds of counting. Ruling NDA is leading in 81 seats, followed by the Congress alliance in 43 seats and other parties and independent candidates are leading in two seats.

Puducherry: The NR Congress-led alliance is well ahead of the Congress alliance in Puducherry, by leading in eight seats in the 12-member Assembly.  The NR Congress is leading in five seats while its alliance partner BJP in three. The Congress and DMK are leading in one seat, while an independent is leading in one constituency.

1.15 PM

According to trends, the DMK alliance is doing well in the Kauvery, Southern and Northern Tamil Nadu, while the AIADMK is holding its fort in the Western belt.

Kerala: A tight contest for NDA in Nemom and Palakkad. Former CM Oommen Chandy loses major ground in Puthuppalli.

Outgoing CM Pinarayi Vijayan (Dharmadom) has a lead of 13,000+, but behind some of his LDF colleagues who have amassed up to 40,000 votes elsewhere.

UDF leads by 5000+ votes in Manjeswar which K Surendran, BJP president, lost by only 89 votes in 2016. But an upset not ruled out yet. Surendran is trailing here as well as in Konni.

1.00 PM

In Kerala, Suresh Gopi (NDA) is trailing at third position, as he gives up lead after seven rounds.

Looking at  the trends, it seems so that a lot of seats in Kerala are witnessing seesawing trends, making unpredicatabe.

Leader of Opposition in outgoing Assembly Ramesh Chennithala established 10,000+ lead in Haripad. E Sreedharan (NDA) pares lead to just over 5,000. Palakkad.

LDF-95. UDF-43. NDA-2

12:45 PM

In Puducherry, the AINRC-led NDA is  leading in 9 seats while the Congress headed alliance is ahead in three segments after first round of counting of votes.- PTI

PUdujpg
 

12.35 PM

Assam: After three rounds of counting, NDA leads in 84 seats, Congress alliance in 40, and Others in 2.

Kerala: Suresh Gopi pares lead to 2,800 in Thrissur. It is likely that UDF might not win the 47 seats it had in the outgoing Assembly.

Major reverse for state and national leadership of Congress which helms UDF.

Outgoing ministers K Krishnankutty and KK Shailaja lead by more than 23,000 votes. LDF is leading in 10 out of 14 districts.

E Sreedharan (NDA) leads by 7,000 in Palakkad.

LDF-95. UDF-42. NDA-3.

12.20 PM

Kerala Trends: Sachin Dev wins his seat, making this the second win for LDF in Kerala.

Nemom bears watching as Kummanam Rajasekharan (NDA) inches forward. He leads by 2,216, fewer than expected.This is the first and lone seat that the BJP has ever had in the Assembly.

Former CM Oommen Chandy (UDF) holds on to lead in Puthuppalli, though far fewer than his usual number during this time of counting. Kerala trends.

LDF-94. UDF-43. NDA-3

In Puducherry, All India N.R. Congress and BJP lead in 5 and 3 seats, respectively.

12.10 PM

Assam: The ruling BJP-led NDA is leading in 79 seats, while the Grand Alliance spearheaded by the Congress is ahead in 39 places, as per trends available at the EC website.

assamjpg
 

 

12.01 PM

In Kerala, BJP president K Surendran is seen trailing in both seats as three of his colleagues establish lead. According to current trends, it looks like LDF is on an irreversible winning streak, almost set for a second term. This is something that will happen for the first time in 40 years in Kerala.

E Sreedharan, Suresh Gopi, Kummanam Rajasekharan drive NDA race in Kerala. BJP had only one seat in outgoing Assembly. Suresh Gopi leads by 3,752, E Sreedharan by 6,000 and Kummanam Rajasekharan by close to 2,000.

Major electoral upsets in Thrissur and Palakkad as NDA consolidates lead. Kerala trends.

Count-- LDF-89; UDF-48; NDA-3.

In Tamil Nadu, Congress is seen to be doing well with lead in 13 seats.

DMK's Udhayanidhi Stalin leading from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency. ANI

11.49 AM

At the end of 4th round of Tamil Nadu's vote counting, DMK chief M K Stalin maintained lead.

BJP Aravakurichi candidate Annamalai is trailing by less than 500 votes. Overall, BJP now leads in 4 seats, DMK in 110 seats, and Congress in 12 seats.

In Kerala, Suresh Gopi (NDA) takes lead to 3,752 in Thrissur. Kummanam Rajasekharan (NDA) restores lead back to over 1,000 votes in Nemom. E Sreedharan (NDA) leads by over 3,000 in Palakkad. Meanwhile, UDF fails to make any perceptible gain despite focused campaiging by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra.

BJP president K Surendran trailing in both seats as three of his colleagues establish lead.

11.37 AM

Kerala result: The first win from Kerala is by TP Ramakrishnan of CPI(M). He won from Perambra.

He's a minister in the outgoing LDF ministry.

11.35 AM

Tamil Nadu: As per the initial status known for 210 seats in the state, the DMK-led alliance was leading in 115 seats with DMK leading in 99 seats, while the AIADMK front leading in 94 seats with AIADMK securing lead in 81 seats.

Related Stories
TN: DMK Alliance leads 114 seats in a tight contest
 

11.28 AM

Kerala witnesses changes. Mani C Kappan of UDF extends lead to over 10,000 votes in Pala. Jose K Mani of LDF suffers major reverses. He had resigned Rajya Sabha seat to fight Assembly polls. Suresh Gopi (NDA) extends lead close to 3000 votes in Thrissur.

LDF had 91 seats, UDF-47, NDA-1, Ind-1 in outgoing Kerala Assembly.

In Tamil Nadu, TTV Dinakaran sees a downtrend. At the end of 6th round, Edappadi K Palaniswami is leading by more than 24,500 votes.

11.20 AM

In Kerala, former CM Oommen Chandy (UDF) suffers big erosion of lead to 788 in Puthuppalli. Meanwhile, Outgoing Electricity Minister MM Mani (CPM(I)) is leading by more than 20,000 votes.

In West Bengal, TMC takes lead in 172 seats, BJP in 88. However, Mamata Banerjee is still trailing with approximately 8,000 votes.

wbjpg
 

In Tamil Nadu's West Zone (Kongu Region), AIADMK is leading in 33 out of 50 seats. In Coimbatore alone, AIADMK front leads in 8 out of 10 seats.

11.10 AM

Tamil Nadu:

DMK front leads in 106 seats, while AIADMK alliance leads in 88 seats.

BJP Candidate Vinoj P Selvam is leading in Harbour constituency in Chennai, DMK's Sekar Babu is trailing.

Assam:

BJP is leading in 80 seats in Assam. The Congress led alliance is leading in just 40 seats.

Kerala:

BJP President K Surendran improves position to second in Manjeswar. Stays at third in Konni. E Sreedharan pares lead to 1,578 votes in Palakkad. LDF-92. UDF-45. NDA-3

photo2021-05-0211-04-58jpg
 

10:55 AM

 

Former CM Oommen Chandy (UDF) is leading by more than 4,000 votes in Puthuppalli. The NDA has run into resistance in both Nemom and Palakkad. In Pala, there is a major upset is underway, Jose K Mani is trailing by more than 9,000 votes. Suresh Gopi (NDA) breaks back into lead in Thrissur after three rounds. Tally: LDF:89 UDF:48 NDA:3

10:40 AM

 

Ministers KT Jaleel and J Mercykkutty Amma are trailing in Kerala. Tally: LDF:91 UDF:47 NDA:2.

photo2021-05-0210-56-57jpg

In Tamil Nadu, the State BJP President L Murugan continues to lead in Dharapuram. Another candidate from the party, MR Gandhi is leading in Nagarkoil. CM Edappadi K Palaniswami continues to lead with a huge margin in his constituency. The DMK's Duraimurugan is still trailing in Katpadi.

 

10:35 AM

 

In TN, the status is now known for 170 seats. The AIADMK front is leading in 80 seats, and the opposition DMK alliance is taking a lead. They are leading in 89 seats. In Puducherry, the All India NR Congress leads in 6 seats and BJP in 2 seats, while DMK and Congress lead in one seat each

 

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan will address the media at 12:30 PM, as the LDF is all set to form the government for a historic second time. The tally: LDF:91 UDF:47 NDA:2

10:30 AM

 

As per the status known for 154 seats in Tamil Nadu, both the DMK and the ruling AIADMK are leading in 65 seats each. The PMK is ahead in 10 seats and Congress in 6 seats. The BJP, and CPI were leading in 3 and 2 seats each. MNK, CPI(M) and VCK were ahead in one seat each. In all, the AIADMK front is leading in 78 seats and DMK front is leading in 75 seats. The MNK is leading in 1 seat.

photo2021-05-0210-25-16jpg
 

10:20 AM

 

There is a tight contest for a prestigious seat of Nemom. The NDA's Kummanam Rajasekharan leads by only 878 votes there. Jose K Mani trails by big margin in Pala, this is a major setback for the LDF. The Kerala Congress (M) of which Jose K Mani is Chairman was seen driving LDF fortunes in Central Kerala. K Surendran trailing in both Konni and Manjeswar seats.  Outgoing Electricity Minister MM Mani leads by 13,000 votes in Udumbanchola. E Sreedharan leads by 2,136 votes in Palakkad.

photo2021-05-0210-23-06jpg

 

In West Bengal, officials say that there are 17 rounds of counting. The tally: TMC:161 BJP:90 Left+:1

photo2021-05-0210-19-50jpg
 

10 AM

In Tamil Nadu, Key DMK leaders , MK Stalin, his son Udayanidhi, KP Shankar are leading. However, senior leader Duraimurugan is trailing in Katpadi. In the AIAMDMK camp, CM K Palanisamy is leading  against the DMK's Sampath Kumar in Edappadi. Meanwhile, ECI data reveals that three BJP candidates, including state President L Murugan, are leading in their constituencies.

photo2021-05-0210-09-09jpg

Meanwhile, in Kerala, the LDF-90. UDF-48. NDA-2. Kerala trends. Suresh Gopi (NDA) trails in Thrissur. The tally: LDF:90 UDF:48 NDA:2.

In West Bengal, the TMC is leading in 150 seats, the BJP in 83 seats and the Left in 1 seat.

photo2021-05-0210-09-04jpg
 

In Assam, the BJP is leading in 71 seats and Congress-led alliance is leading in 39 seats, after the counting of postal votes. Others and independent candidates are leading in two seats.

photo2021-05-0210-09-14jpg
 

 

9:50 AM

 

Mamata Banerjee is trailing in Nandigram after Round 2. Suvendu Adhikari is leading by almost 5,000 votes. The tally now: TMC:120 BJP: 92 Left+:0

In Tamil Nadu, the the trends are known for 54 seats. The AIADMK is leading in 23 seats, while DMK was leading in 24 seats. The PMK is ahead in 3 seats, while the BJP, VCK, CPI and CPI(M) were leading in one seats each.

In Kerala, there is a signs of a major upset in Pala. Kerala Congress (M) leader and neo-LDF convert Jose K Mani trails UDF candidate namesake Mani C Kaplan by over 3,000 votes. Metromam E Sreedharan (NDA) increases his lead to over 3,000 votes in Palakkad.

 

9:40 AM

 

As per latest official data of Election Commission of India, the ruling AIADMK party is leading in 7 seats, while DMK was leading in 5 seats. The PMK was leading in one seat. At the end of Round 1, Industries Minister MC Sampath is leading by 1,275 votes in the Cuddalore assembly constituency, and AIADMK's Pon Jeyaseelan has a slender lead in Gudalur constituency (500). DMK chief MK Stalin is leading by 1,754 votes in the Kolathur constituency.

 

In Kerala, the ruling LDF is sustaining its leads, but the UDF has let go of some of its early gains. BJP's Suresh Gopi breaks into lead in Thrissur. LDF-83. UDF-54. NDA-3.

9:30 AM

 

The DMK has taken a early lead in Tamil Nadu. They are leading in 6 seats. The ruling AIADMK is leading in two seats.

 

It is a close contest in West Bengal, the TMC is leading in 90 seats, while the BJP is leading in 74 seats. The Left front, which rule the State for 34 years, is leading only in 2 seats. Suvendu Adhikari is leading in Nandigram, while Mamata Banerjee is trailing there.

9:20 AM

 

The BJP's Babul Supriyo is leading against the TMC's Aroop Biswas in Tollygunge. The party's Rabindranath Bhattacharjee is leading in Singur, while Swapan Dasgupta is trailing in Tarakeswar and Locket Chatterjee is trailing in Chinsurah.

The state's ruling party's Manoj Tiwari and Siddiqullah Chowdhury are trailing. The TMC is leading in 80 seats, the BJP in 66 seats and the Left Front + in 2 seats.

In Assam, the trends of 29 seats out of 126 are available. The ruling BJP is leading in 20 seats, while the Congress-led alliance is leading in nine seats.

In Kerala, E Sreedharan (NDA) raises his lead to 2,200 in Palakkad.

9:10 AM

 

Senior leaders of the BJP are leading in Tamil Nadu. H Raja is leading in Karaikudi, while the party's state president L Murugan is leading in Dharapuram. The DMDK's Premalatha Vijayakanth is leading in Virudhaachalam.

 

In West Bengal, the TMC is leading in 77 seats and the BJP is leading in 66 seats. The Left-Congress alliance is leading in 2 seats.

 

9:05 AM

 

In West Bengal, the TMC is leading in 68 seats, while the BJP is leading in 63 seats. The Left front is leading in just 2 seats. The BJP's Babul Supriyo is leading in Tollygunge.

The NDA is leading in three seats -- Palakkad ('Metroman' Sreedharan), Nemom (Kummanam Rajasekaharan) and Kozhikode South (Navya Haridas) -- in Kerala. So far, the LDF is sweeping the election with leads in 80 seats. The UDF is leading in 57 seats.

9 AM

 

There are three counting centres in Puducherry — Motilal Nehru Government Polytechnic college, the Women’s polytechnic college and the Government Tagore Arts and Science college (all in neighbouring Lawspet) — relating to the 23 segments in Puducherry.

Related Stories
Puducherry: Counting of votes begins amidst tight security, adherence to Covid protocols
Nearly 82 per cent of 10.04 lakh voters exercised their franchise in the Union Territory on April 6
 

In Tamil Nadu, there are 75 counting centres. The polling in 234 Assembly seats was held on April 6, 2021 and it recorded a voter turnout 71.79 per cent.

8:50 AM

 

The trends in all 140 seats in Kerala are now available. The LDF has a majority (78), whild the UDF is in second place (60). The NDA is a distant third. The BJP is leading in two seats -- Nemom and Palakkad ('Metroman' Sreedharan).

8:45 AM

 

Early trends are coming coming in fast in Kerala. The LDF is now leading in 75 seats, which is more that the half-way mark (70). The UDF is leading in 57 seats and the NDA in one. BJP's Kummanam Rajasekaharan is leading in Nemom. He holds a slender lead (415 votes) over K Muraleedharan (MP of Congress).

8:40 AM

 

Early trends show that the TMC is leading in 52 seats in West Bengal. The BJP is a close second, as the party is leading in 49 seats. Top leaders of the party like Swapan Dasgupta and Locket Chatterjee are leading in their respective constituencies. Meanwhile, the Congress-Left-ISF alliance is leading in only one seat.

8:30 AM

 

In Assam, the first trend shows that the NDA is leading in four seats and the Congress-led alliance is leading in two seats. In Kerala, the LDF is leading in 60 seats, while the UDF is leading in 39 seats. The NDA is leading in a single seat.

8:10 AM

 

With Kerala gearing up for the Counting Day, we take a look at the journey of the State’s current Chief Minister – Pinarayi Vijayan.

 

8 AM

 

The counting of votes has begun.

 

In Tamil Nadu, the counting of votes is being held amid tight security and in tune with fresh COVID-19 guidelines. There are 75 counting centres spread across the State and authorities are counting postal ballots first. There are 3,998 candidates in the fray, including top AIADMK leaders, Chief Minister K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, DMK president M K Stalin and his son and party youth wing secretary, Udhayanidhi Stalin, who is seeking to enter the Assembly for the first time.

In West Bengal, the counting is taking place with tight security and strict adherence to Covid safety protocols. Exit polls have forecast a tight contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP in the eight-phase elections to the 294-member assembly. The counting will decide the electoral fate of 2,116 candidates including nominees of the Left-Congress-Indian Secular Front alliance.

 

In Kerala, the postal votes are being counted. The outcome will decide the fate of 975 candidates, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Opposition leader, Ramesh Chennithala, senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy, 'Metroman' E Sreedharan and former Union Minister K J Alphons. The counting for the Malappuram Lok Sabha bypoll is also being held.

 

In Assam, counting is taking place in 331 designated halls. The electoral fate of 946 candidates including 74 women, who contested the three-phase polls for the 126-member assembly, will be decided during the exercise. Most exit polls predict a victory for the BJP-led alliance for the second time in a row.

 

7:30 AM

 

Exit polls predict that sixty-eight-year-old Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin, the son of former DMK leader M Karunidhi, will sweep the polls in Tamil Nadu. Will the ‘son’ rise once again?

Click here to know more:

7 AM

Exit polls at the end of Assembly elections in five States, predicted a mixed bag for the BJP. While the party is seen romping home in Assam, the polls give a clear edge to Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. The pollsters were near unanimous in predicting a sweep for the DMK in Tamil Nadu and a comeback for the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left front in Kerala.

Read more:

Related Stories
Mamata has the edge in Bengal, DMK set to sweep Tamil Nadu
Exit polls predict LDF retaining Kerala; a close win for BJP in Assam, Puducherry

comment COMMENT NOW