Chennai, 09 Oct (H.S.): Early postal ballot trends favoured the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in both Madurantakam and Dharapuram on Friday as counting began in the two Assembly constituencies, marking an electoral test for Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s government.

The DMK occupied second place and the AIADMK third in the opening trends. These positions were provisional, with the results dependent on the counting of votes recorded in electronic voting machines.

Election officials began the exercise at 8 a.m., taking up postal ballots first before proceeding to EVM votes under the supervision of observers and representatives of the candidates.

Earlier, strongrooms housing the machines were opened in the presence of district election authorities, collectors, returning officers, election observers and candidates’ agents. Police were deployed in strength to secure the counting premises.

In Madurantakam, EVM votes will be counted at 14 tables over 21 rounds. Two tables have been designated for postal ballots, while Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail slips will be counted separately for verification.

Madurantakam, in Chengalpattu district, and Dharapuram, in Tiruppur district, are both reserved for Scheduled Castes. Polling took place on October 6 after an intensive campaign.

The vacancies arose after AIADMK legislators K. Maragatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabama resigned and joined TVK. The party subsequently nominated them in the constituencies they had won earlier this year.

Kumaravel had defeated the TVK candidate in Madurantakam by 7,194 votes, while Sathyabama defeated her DMK rival in Dharapuram by 16,727 votes.

AIADMK fielded Kanitha Sampath and Bhanumathi respectively, seeking to reclaim both seats.

For TVK, which won 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, success would strengthen its legislative presence and political standing. The opposition parties are seeking an electoral comeback.

The outcome will become clearer as EVM counting progresses, with postal ballot trends offering an indication of voter preference.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman