Chennai: Millions voted on Monday in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, bringing down the curtains on staggered five-state elections -- the biggest popularity test since the Lok Sabha battle.
Some 40 million voted in Tamil Nadu, which saw multiple contests in all constituencies for the first time, and about 18 million in Kerala, where the BJP made determined efforts to make inroads in a state dominated by the Congress-led UDF and the LDF headed by the CPI-M.
The polling percentage in Kerala -- which elects a 140-seat assembly -- was 70.35 at 5 p.m. Election Commission officials said it could well cross the 75.12 per cent recorded in 2011 when the polling ends at 6 p.m.
Officials said over 65 percent of the 58 million electorate in Tamil Nadu had voted by 4 p.m.
In Tamil Nadu, the ruling AIADMK was pitted against the DMK-Congress alliance, a front led by the DMDK of actor-turned-politician Vijaykanth, the PMK and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Polling in two of the 234 constituencies has been postponed.
The main fight in Puducherry, which has a 30-member house, is between the Congress-DMK combine and the ruling All India NR Congress (AINRC).
In all three states, voting began on a brisk note at 7 a.m. and continued on that pace throughout the day. Long queues formed at all polling centres but the polling was largely peaceful.
In Kerala, both Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and CPI-M veteran VS Achuthanandan asserted that their coalitions were set to win the electoral battle.
Chandy, who heads the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), said at his hometown Puthupally near Kottayam: "We are certain the people will give us one more chance."
Added Congress leader and former chief minister A.K. Antony: "For the first time in the state a ruling party is going to retain power. While the Left will remain in the opposition, the BJP won't win any seat."
But Marxist leader Achuthanandan, whose Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) heads the Left Democratic Front (LDF), was equally confident.
"There is a huge wave in our favour. We are heading for a landslide victory. People are going to show the exit door to Chandy."
State BJP president Kummanem Rajasekheran, contesting in Vatiyoorkavu in the state capital, said: "There is a strong opposition to both the Left as well as the Congress. That's why we are hugely confident."
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalithaa did not predict the outcome: "In two days, the verdict will be known," she said after voting in Chennai.
DMK chief and former chief minister M. Karunanidhi, his son and party treasurer M.K. Stalin and state BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan voted in Chennai too.
Karunanidhi said the DMK-Congress combine was poised to win and form the next government.
In Chennai, actors Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Ajith, Sundar. C and Khushboo voted. In Kerala too, the Malayalam film industry turned out in strength to exercise their franchise.
The AIADMK is aligned with some smaller parties. The DMK's allies include the Congress, two Muslim parties and some smaller outfits. The third front has the DMDK, CPI-M, CPI, VCK, TMC and MDMK.
Staggered assembly elections began on April 4 in West Bengal and Assam..
Here are the developments:
- Polling is also being held in a single phase today in Kerala and Puducherry. "Urging all voters in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry to vote in record numbers today & be a part of this festival of democracy," Prime Minister Narendra Modi has tweeted.
- Superstar Rajinikanth was among early voters in rainy Chennai, as polling began in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. He was followed a short while later by his neighbour and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who is seeking a second straight term in the state. "In two days, you will know what is the judgement of the people," she said after casting her vote.
- Among other early voters in Tamil Nadu were DMK chief M Karunanidhi, 93, who hopes to wrest the state back from Ms Jayalalithaa and his daughter Kanimozhi and son MK Stalin, who stood in a queue to vote this morning. The DMK has joined hands with the Congress.
- Over 100 crore cash has been seized in Tamil Nadu, where voting was cancelled hours before the elections in two of Tamil Nadu's 234 constituencies - Aravakurichi and Thanjavur - following complaints of voters being bribed. Elections will be held there on May 23.
- For the first time Tamil Nadu witnesses a multi-cornered contest. While actor turned politician Captain Vijaykanth leads a four-party coalition, there is also 47-year-old Dr Anbumani Ramadoss of the PMK, who is contesting all seats in Tamil Nadu with an eye on young voters.
- In Kerala, where voting is being held for all 140 seats, the Left Democratic Front hopes to unseat the Congress-led United Democratic Front. Power has alternated between the two parties every five years.
- Like in Tamil Nadu, where the 90 plus Karunanidhi hopes to be chief minister again, in Kerala, charismatic Left leader VS Achuthanandan, 93, is expected to be CM if the LDF comes back to power in a closely fought contest with the Congress led by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
- For the first time in Kerala, the BJP is an important factor and how well it does will impact the result of today's election. The party has never won an assembly or parliamentary seat in the state but its vote share has steadily been rising and it hopes to convert that into seats this time. However, Mr Chandy, after casting his vote in Kottayam, said: "BJP will not open account in the assembly election."
- Elections are also being held for the 30 assembly seats in Puducherry, where Chief Minister N Rangaswamy, the leader of All India NR Congress is seeking re-election. In 2011, the newly formed party by the rebel Congressman had won 15 seats.
- Votes will be counted on May 19 in all five states -- Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry -- where elections have been held since last month. Votes for the two Tamil Nadu constituencies where polling has been deferred will be counted on May 25.
