New Delhi, 04 May (H.S.): Counting of votes for the high-stakes Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry will commence at 8 a.m. today, with postal ballots prioritized before Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), as the Election Commission of India (ECI) enforces stringent transparency measures.
Election officials across 40 counting centers in Assam, 77 in West Bengal, and similar setups in other regions will deploy thousands of personnel, including micro-observers and CCTV surveillance, to ensure seamless proceedings.
Early trends are anticipated within the first two hours, with full results expected by late afternoon or evening, accessible via results.eci.gov.in.
Voter Turnout Highlights
Kerala will record a tentative 79.7% turnout after incorporating service voters' postal ballots, up from 79.63%, with 53,984 postal ballots issued.West Bengal will see over 92% participation across phases, Assam 85.38%, Tamil Nadu 85.10% (4.87 crore votes, including strong female turnout), and Puducherry 89.87%.
Key Pre-Result Developments
Authorities will order fresh polling in West Bengal's Falta constituency on May 21 due to electoral irregularities across 285 booths, following repolls in other areas. Security will intensify around strongrooms, with three-tier arrangements and QR-based entry in Tamil Nadu.
Political leaders, from Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan updating his bio to BJP candidates seeking temple blessings, will express optimism amid exit poll skepticism from Congress and RJD.
Stakes in Major States
In Assam (126 seats), BJP will eye a hat-trick against Congress comeback bids. Kerala's LDF will seek a historic third term versus UDF challenge. Tamil Nadu will pit DMK against AIADMK-NDA and emerging TVK. West Bengal will remain a TMC-BJP battleground, with TMC defending power.
Puducherry's 30 seats will complete the quintet.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
