Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is set to witness a closely watched political verdict on May 4, tomorrow as counting begins for the Assembly elections, marking the end of a high-stakes triangular contest between the LDF, UDF and NDA.

The counting of votes will begin at 8 am on Monday across 140 counting centres in 43 locations. Authorities have completed preparations for the process, with strong security arrangements in place.

Postal ballots will be counted first, followed by EVM votes in multiple rounds. Officials expect a clear trend to emerge by the afternoon.

The election saw a massive voter base of over 2.71 crore people, with a turnout of 79.63% across 140 constituencies. A total of 883 candidates contested, making it one of the most closely watched electoral battles in the state.

Over 15,000 personnel have been deployed for counting duties, including returning officers, micro observers and counting assistants to ensure smooth conduct.

What are the key political stakes?

The election is crucial for all three major fronts in Kerala politics.

For the Congress-led UDF, the contest is seen as a major opportunity to return to power after being in opposition since 2016. The alliance is hoping to improve significantly from its 2021 performance of 41 seats.

For the ruling LDF, the election is a test of whether it can retain power for a third consecutive term. While matching its previous tally of 99 seats appears difficult, the front remains confident of strong support based on development work.

The BJP-led NDA is focused on improving its vote share and expanding its presence in the state, even though it is not expected to form the government. Its performance in recent elections will be closely tracked.