Initial Trends Show AIADMK, DMK in a Neck-and-neck Race

The counting of postal ballots is under way now. Initial trends suggest that the DMK and the AIADMK are in close race. The voting trend in the initial rounds could, by noon, indicate which party would form the next government in the State.

All exit polls, except one, have given the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-Congress combine the edge over long-time rival, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). The incumbent Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has promised in her manifesto, free laptops to students, mobile phones for ration-card holders, and the expansion of the noon-meal scheme to include breakfast. Not to be left behind in the freebie-race, the DMK too has promised smartphones for poor families and tablets or laptops with internet connections for students.

Polling for Aravakurichi and Thanjavur constituencies have been postponed to May 23, following complaints of widespread bribes. Tenkasi constituency too saw repolling on May 18, after polling officials mistakenly counted votes polled during the ‘mock poll’ period.

Live updates:

8:44 a.m.: DMK’s leading in Egmore; AIADMK’s Parithi Ellamvazhuthi is trailing at the moment.

8:40 a.m.: Sources say Natham R. Viswanathan is trailing in Aathoor. DMK’s Periasamy is ahead.

8:37 a.m.: News coming in from Colachel: 325 postal votes from defence personnel has no seal of origin of posting. 323 AIADMK, 2 for NOTA. Cong, BJP opposed.

8:26 a.m.: It’s a neck-and-neck race with DMK leading three seats and the AIADMK in two.

8:20 a.m.: DMK takes the first lead in postal ballots, TV channels show.

8:06 a.m.:

Officials ready to take up counting at Saranathan Engineering College in Tiruchi. Photo: M.Srinath

8:01 a.m.: P.V. Srividya reports: Postal ballot counting started in six constituencies of Krishnagiri and five in Dharmapuri.

7:54 a.m.: Our Ramanathapuram Correspondent D.J. Walter Scott says EVMs will be opened after counting of 1300-odd postal ballots. And for the unintiated, he’s explaining the process here:

“There are 14 counting tables for each Assembly segment and the votes polled in a EVM would be counted after the micro observer has tallied the votes. The counted votes would be updated by a data operator after another observer gives a go ahead to it. Candidates and their agents would be taken into confidence before going ahead with next step. One round is likely to take 40 to 50 minutes.”

7.41 a.m.: Our Tiruchi Correspondent R. Rajaram says there’s heavy police bandobust at both counting centres in the city.

7.31 a.m.: Here’s what the different parties had promised as a part of their election manifesto:

DMK

Targeting the younger generation, the DMK manifesto promised waiver of education loans, tablets or laptops bundled with 3G/4G internet connection and 10GB per month download option for 16 lakh students and smart phones for poor families.

AIADMK

100 free units of power every 2 months; farm and education loan waivers; Amma banking cards to avail govt. services; Rs. 1 lakh for temples of local deities.

PMK

The draft manifesto of the party annunces sweeping reforms to ensure transparency in administration.

7.27 a.m.: For the first time in the electoral history of the State, more women cast their votes than men, even as the overall polling percentage in 232 constituencies across the State touched 74.26.

7.03 a.m.: Our political Correspondent Sruthisagar Yamunan writes: While AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa hopes to break the anti-incumbency curse and become the first Chief Minister to win two consecutive elections since 1984, a victory for the DMK would mean its president M. Karunanidhi would take over the top post for a record sixth time. 3,236 counting tables have been arranged in the counting centres across the State. Due to high number of voters in 219 constituencies, each round will have 14 tables. Over 13,000 persons are to be involved in the counting process.

6.55 a.m.: Hello and welcome to our live coverage. One hour more to go before we begin to find out who will win the mandate in Tamil Nadu. With the counting of votes in 232 constituencies set to begin at 8 a.m., the voting trend in the initial rounds could, by noon, indicate which party would form the next government in the State.