Heavy three-layer security was established early on Monday around Chennai's Loyola College in preparation for the counting of votes from the recently concluded Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Dozens of security personnel were stationed at the college gates, with barricades erected and officials conducting thorough vehicle checks. Loyola College is one of the designated counting centres housing electronic voting machines (EVMs) for counting nearly 48 million votes cast in the election.
Other counting centres for the day include Queen Mary’s College and Anna University.
Tamil Nadu is eagerly awaiting the results of the polling held on April 23, which will determine whether the incumbent Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) retains power or if the alliance led by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will capitalise on anti-incumbency sentiment.
While multiple exit polls have forecast a DMK victory, some surveys suggest a potential disruption by the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).
Tamil Nadu is among four states including Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, and the union territory of Puducherry that will declare results for the April 23 polls, with West Bengal having also conducted a second phase of voting on April 29.
The counting process began with postal ballots at 8:00 am, followed by EVM counting from 8:30 am. Round-wise results will be promptly updated on the ECINET platform as well as the official Election Commission portal.
Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Congress In-Charge Girish Chodankar expressed confidence in the DMK-led alliance’s prospects, stating, “We are confident that our DMK alliance will form the government and create history in Tamil Nadu. We are very confident that we will come back to power.”
In West Bengal, where the contest was intensely fought, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari invoked spiritual sentiment ahead of counting: “I offered prayers at the Lakshmi Narayan Temple. God is with us. A government that protects the interests of Sanatan Dharma is coming.”
The BJP remains confident it can unseat the incumbent Trinamool Congress (TMC), with several leaders asserting that a wave of change is forthcoming.
In Assam, the BJP, currently in government, seeks to leverage its governance record to secure another term.
Exit polls for Kerala are inconclusive; however, the Congress and the United Democratic Front (UDF) remain hopeful of a return to power.