New Delhi: Counting of votes for Assembly elections in five states — West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry — will be held on Monday, with results expected to shape the political landscape across key regions.
The counting process will begin at 8 am with postal ballots, followed by electronic voting machines (EVMs), under a three-tier security system at all centres, officials said.
The Election Commission of India has introduced a QR code-based identity system for the first time to regulate entry into counting centres. Mobile phones have been restricted for all except authorised personnel.
In West Bengal, counting will be conducted at 77 centres for 293 seats, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress is seeking a fourth term against a strong challenge from the BJP. The state recorded a 92.47 per cent voter turnout, the highest since Independence. Polling in the Falta constituency was countermanded due to electoral violations.
In Assam, votes for 126 Assembly seats will be counted at 40 centres. The BJP-led NDA is aiming for a third consecutive term, while the Congress-led alliance is hoping to return to power.
In Kerala, where 883 candidates contested for 140 seats, the Congress-led UDF is attempting to unseat the ruling Left Democratic Front. The BJP-led NDA is also looking to expand its presence in the state.
In Tamil Nadu, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is seeking a second term, facing competition from AIADMK and other regional players. Counting will take place at 62 centres with extensive deployment of officials and security personnel.
In Puducherry, six counting centres have been set up for the Assembly polls, where the NDA faces the INDIA bloc.
Counting will also be held for bypolls in eight constituencies across several states, including Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tripura.
Officials said elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure peaceful, transparent and orderly counting across all states.
