Left or Right? Few hours left for election results; postal votes to be counted first

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Just a few hours are left for the Election Commission to start counting the results in four states and one union territory, including Kerala. The trend will be clear by 10 am tomorrow when the votes are counted. By noon, the public will get to know which government is coming to power.

The results of the elections to the assemblies of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry will be out tomorrow. People are anxious to see whether there will be a continuation or a change of government in the mandate of the people. The counting of votes will begin at 8 am. Postal votes will be counted first. The counting of votes in the electronic voting machines will start at 8:30 am. 15,465 officials have been assigned for the counting of votes. Special identity cards with QR codes have been made mandatory for them. 32,301 police personnel have been assigned security duties. The CRPF is also responsible for the security of the strong rooms, the Chief Electoral Officer said in a press conference.

The UDF is confident of winning more than 100 seats and regaining power in Kerala. The LDF believes that they will form the government again. The NDA, meanwhile, is expecting more seats to establish a firm presence in the state. Voting was held in a single phase for all 140 constituencies in Kerala.

The situation was no different in Tamil Nadu. Voting was held in a single phase for 234 constituencies. The verdict was written in two phases for 294 assembly constituencies in West Bengal. Of these, re-polling has been announced in the Falta constituency. Therefore, votes in 293 places are being counted. Re-polling in Falta is on May 21. Elections were held in 126 assembly constituencies in Assam. The result of the fight for the 30-member assembly in Puducherry is awaited.