ELECTION RESULTS

The counting of votes for 234 assembly seats is under way. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has made Covid-19 negative reports mandatory for the officials (on election duty) and agents to enter the counting centres. The authorities have conducted exclusive camps to conduct RT PCR tests for the agents and journalists in the last three to four days.

For each assembly constituency, there would be 14 to 20 tables depending upon the number of voters. The seating arrangements for counting agents will be made in such a way that between two agents, one will be in PPE. Stay updated with the Times of India to get all the live updates on Tamil Nadu Election Results and constituency-wise results:

The counting of votes begins for the high-stakes assembly polls in four states- Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and the union territory of Puducherry. All necessary arrangements have been made by the Election Commission for counting which will begin at 8 am across counting centres. The outcome of assembly polls is likely to have implications for politics at the national level.

Catch here all the latest updates of Assembly Election Results 2021:

Counting of votes for 4 states, Puducherry begins.

-Counting of votes for #AssamAssemblyPolls to be held at two locations in Dibrugarh, at Dibrugarh Govt Boys Higher Secondary School and Deputy Commissioner Office, Dibrugarh.

-Kerala: Congress leader and former CM Oommen Chandy offer prayers at Puthuppally Church. He is also the party's candidate from the Puthuppally Assembly constituency.

est Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam Election Results 2021 Live Updates: Counting of votes to the legislative assemblies of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and the union territory of Puducherry has begun. The first few hours will be for the counting of postal ballots. The elections were held amid a surge in Covid-19 cases across the country – a second wave that has ridden the country to an unprecedented crisis. You can therefore expect the results this time to be much slower. Our coverage on the Covid-19 crisis continues, click here for LIVE updates.

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On Thursday, as West Bengal completed its record eighth and final phase of voting, exit polls conducted by several television news networks predicted a neck-and-neck contest between the Trinamool and the BJP, relegating the Left-Congress alliance to a distant third.

In Tamil Nadu, all the surveys have predicted a DMK-Left-Congress alliance victory with one predicting it would win between 175-195 seats out of 234. In Assam and Kerala, most of the national surveys gave the BJP and the Left Democratic Front (LDF), respectively, a second term. For the LDF, if the surveys prove true, retaining power in Kerala will be historic as the state has traditionally voted out the incumbent. In Puducherry, the Congress is set to lose with surveys giving the AIADMK-BJP-NR Congress alliance the edge.

What changes at the counting centres this time? Given the rise in Covid-19 cases, the Election Commission of India issued instructions for counting of votes in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The commission has issued a blanket ban on all victory rallies, and has made it compulsory for candidates and their agents to either be fully vaccinated or have tested negative for Covid-19 in the preceding 48 hours. This, after the Madras High Court came down heavily on the poll body for what it said was its failure in enforcing stringent Covid-19 protocols.

LIVE BLOG

Get the latest election result updates for West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, Puducherry. Don't miss our live coverage of Election Results 2021. Read in Malayalam, Tamil, Bangla

08:15 (IST)

02 MAY 2021

India Covid-19 crisis - our coverage continues

While the election results will end up making a lot of headlines today, our coverage of the Covid-19 crisis across the country continues. You can follow our live coverage here.

08:14 (IST)

02 MAY 2021

Postal votes - leads

In Assam, the BJP is leading in 2 while the Congress is leading in 1. In Kerala, the LDF and the UDF are leading in two each. - Again, these are postal ballots that are being counted.

08:11 (IST)

02 MAY 2021

The first postal leads are out - in Bengal

Both - the Trinamool and the BJP - have secured a lead each in West Bengal. It's important to remember that these are just postal ballots that are being counted and the total number of votes are not significant in terms of determining the result.  

08:08 (IST)

02 MAY 2021

In Kerala, Oommen Chandy offers prayers

Congress leader and former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy offers prayers at Puthuppally Church. He is also the party's candidate from Puthuppally Assembly constituency. Counting of votes for the election results that are underway. 

02 MAY 2021

Counting of votes have begun

Counting of votes to the assemblies of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and UT of Puducherry is underway. The election results this time will take longer because of the Covid-19 crisis. 

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07:55 (IST)

02 MAY 2021

Election result day under shadow of Covid-19 pandemic

The Election Commission, after a severe reprimand from the Madras HC, issued guidelines earlier this week, stating that no political candidate or agent will be allowed to enter the centre without a negative Covid-19 test or having recieved both does of the vaccine. There are also guidelines on how many people can go to collect the result certificate from the Returning Officer. Election victory rallies have been banned across the country. 

07:55 (IST)

02 MAY 2021

Election result day under shadow of Covid-19 pandemic

The Election Commission, after a severe reprimand from the Madras HC, issued guidelines earlier this week, stating that no political candidate or agent will be allowed to enter the centre without a negative Covid-19 test or having recieved both does of the vaccine. There are also guidelines on how many people can go to collect the result certificate from the Returning Officer. Election victory rallies have been banned across the country. 

07:55 (IST)

02 MAY 2021

Election result day under shadow of Covid-19 pandemic

The Election Commission, after a severe reprimand from the Madras HC, issued guidelines earlier this week, stating that no political candidate or agent will be allowed to enter the centre without a negative Covid-19 test or having recieved both does of the vaccine. There are also guidelines on how many people can go to collect the result certificate from the Returning Officer. Election victory rallies have been banned across the country. 

07:47 (IST)

02 MAY 2021

All eyes on Bengal - will Didi hold fort?

After two terms, can Mamata Banerjee fight incumbency and the BJP's campaign to oust her? The state saw an unprecedented eight-phase election, which the ruling Trinamool alleged was done to favour the BJP. But exit poll analysis by television news networks claimed the last few phases may actually have gone in favour of TMC due to what is being seen as the Centre's failure to contain the second wave of Covid-19.

07:39 (IST)

02 MAY 2021

Postal ballots will be higher this time

As is the norm, counting of votes begins with postal ballots. That takes up the first hour of counting. However, with the ongoing pandemic, the EC allowed Covid-19 positive patients to vote in the elections and in some parts postal votes were used. So we can expect this election to have a larger amount of postal ballots.

07:28 (IST)

02 MAY 2021

Get our regional coverage of today's election results

While you're here, let us remind you that you can read our election coverage in Tamil, Bangla and Malayalam as well. This apart from our coverage in Hindi and Marathi that you can find on Jansatta and Loksatta.

07:27 (IST)

02 MAY 2021

Are the elections a referendum on how govts handled Covid-19 crisis?

Counting is set to begin in a few minutes from now, but one question that many ask is this: Are today's election results a referendum on how the incumbent state governments - and perhaps the BJP government at the Centre - handled the on-going Covid-19 crisis? Has that been an election topic? how much of an impact will it have on incumbent governments retaining power or for the BJP - that hopes to win West Bengal. Let's wait for the results to start pouring in. 

07:22 (IST)

02 MAY 2021

Election Results 2021: Congress not to participate in TV debates today

The Congress has said it will not participate in television debates Sunday on the Assembly election results in Kerala, Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry citing the Covid crisis.

"At a time when the nation is facing an unprecedented crisis, when Government under Prime Minister Modi has collapsed, we find it unacceptable to not hold them accountable and instead discuss election wins and losses. We have decided to withdraw our spokespersons from election debates," Congress communication department head Randeep Surjewala said.

Exit polls broadcast by various television networks have predicted a battering for Congress in the elections. Most of the polls have predicted that Congress is likely to lose Kerala and could finish second in Assam. The polls have predicted a drubbing for the party in West Bengal and Puducherry as well.

Surjewala said: "We may win, we may lose, but at a time when people are looking for oxygen, beds, medicines, ventilators; our duty tells us to stand by them, work with them to heal and help. In solving with India."

07:17 (IST)

02 MAY 2021

Election Results 2021: Will AIADMK win a third term?

In Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK, which has been in power since 2011, hopes to extend its hold on the state for another term. The Opposition DMK, on the other hand, is hoping a mixture of incumbency and instability within the ruling party will allow it to return to the helm of affairs after a decade. All the exit polls have predicted a clean sweep for the DMK, with one even giving the alliance up to 195 seats.

This election is the first in the state without two of Tamil Nadu’s towering political figures, M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa. The gap they left in the political arena has given rise to other fronts over the last few years.

Follow LIVE updates on Tamil Nadu election results, here

07:11 (IST)

02 MAY 2021

Election Results 2021: Counting of postal ballots to begin at 8 am

Visuals from a counting centre in Kannur

06:56 (IST)

02 MAY 2021

Election Results: Will Mamata hit a hat-trick?

The TMC and the BJP are locked in a bitter struggle for the 294 Assembly seats in the state, with exit polls predicting a close contest. In Kerala, the counting will be held at 114 centres. Exit polls have tipped the CPI(M)-led LDF government to return to power, keeping out the Congress-led UDF for the second straight time. Kerala’s Chief Electoral Officer Teek Ram Meena said 633 counting halls have been arranged in the centres for counting votes for the 140 Assembly constituencies. He said the number of halls has been increased from 140 considering the pandemic. Counting of votes polled in the by-election to Malappuram Lok Sabha seat will also be done.

Follow LIVE updates on Bengal election results, here

06:52 (IST)

02 MAY 2021

Election Results 2021: Covid rules in place ahead of counting

The Election Commission has made multiple arrangements—such as increasing the number of counting halls, limiting the number of officials inside, and making vaccination certificates or negative tests mandatory for entry—to ensure adherence to Covid-19 protocols amid the counting process. It has also banned victory rallies.

06:29 (IST)

02 MAY 2021

Election Results 2021: When, where and how to check result live counting online

West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam Assembly Election Results 2021: The results of the high-octane elections, marred by the Covid-19 pandemic, to the assemblies of West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will be declared on Sunday.

The election schedule spread across four states and one Union Territory began on March 27 and continued till April 29. West Bengal (292 seats) voted in eight phases while Assam (126 seats) went to polls in three phases. Elections in Kerala (140 seats), Tamil Nadu (234 seats) and Puducherry (30 seats) were held in a single phase on April 6.  Read More

06:28 (IST)

02 MAY 2021

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06:14 (IST)

02 MAY 2021

Uttar Pradesh panchayat elections: Will participate in counting, say teachers and govt staff

Several teachers’ and employees’ associations on Saturday announced that they will be participating in the counting of votes for the Panchayat elections on Sunday. Claiming that many teachers lost their lives to Covid-19 after they were deployed in panchayat poll duty, the associations had on Thursday threatened to boycott the counting of votes on Sunday.

However, after having a virtual meeting with senior government officials, the associations announced that they will take part in counting, provided that Covid protocols are strictly in place.  Read More

Preparations underway at a counting centre in Kerala. PTI Photo

Here's a look at each of the states where the assembly election results will be declared Sunday

West Bengal assembly election results 2021:

Following an intensely polarised election - and the state's longest (eight phases) - all eyes are on who will emerge victorious in Bengal. Will Didi hold fort or will the BJP go beyond what exit polls are predicting and win a comfortable majority in Bengal? In the current assembly, the BJP has three seats with a vote percentage slightly above 10 percent. All exit polls have predicted it will cross the three-figure mark, if not get a clear majority to form government, and record a jump in vote share to somewhere around 40 percent. For the Trinamool Congress, which had won 211 of the 293 seats it contested in 2016, the few months ahead of elections proved expensive. It lost several of its party leaders to the BJP. Battling incumbency, the Mamata Banerjee-led party is hopeful of retaining power for a third term.

Tamil Nadu and Puducherry election results:

Tamil Nadu and Puducherry voted in a single-phase election conducted on April 6. Tamil Nadu will see its first election without the two towering figures - J Jayalalithaa and M Karunanidhi - putting current chief minister and Jayalalithaa loyalist Edapaddi K Palaniswami and Karunaidhi's son M K Stalin - in the ring. All exit poll surveys have given the DMK a clear majority, and if they hold true, Stalin will emerge as the next chief minister of the state. In 2019, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance swept the Lok Sabha elections winning 38 of the 39 seats. In power since 2011, the AIADMK, part of the BJP-led NDA, will hope to win a third term despite the incumbency and instability within the party following the death of its leader.

In Puducherry, exit poll surveys have predicted a victory for the AIADMK-BJP-NR Congress alliance. The Congress lost power weeks ahead of elections after party MLAs resigned reducing the strength of the ruling alliance to 11 against the opposition's 14. Congress Chief Minister V Narayanasamy had to resign ahead of the trust vote on February 22.

Kerala Assembly election results:

In Kerala, it's ‘thudarbharanam’ (re-election) vs ‘adiozhukkukal’ (undercurrents). With exit poll surveys giving the LDF a historic win, the Pinarayi Vijayan-led alliance is hopeful of ending the state's political tradition of voting out the incumbent. For the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), the high-octance election campaign by the Gandhis is what they're banking on to form government and oust the LDF. If the exit polls hold true, it reinforces the argument of there being very little anti-incumbency against Vijayan's government - one that saw the state through several crises including the Kerala floods, and the on-going Covid-19 surge.

In the 2016 Assembly election, the LDF rode to power winning 91 of the 140 seats, reducing the UDF to 47 seats. The BJP had opened its account in the state, winning one seat. The half-way mark is 71.

Assam Assembly election results:

The BJP-led alliance comprising the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) and the Gana Suraksha Party (GSP) are confident of retaining power in the northeastern state - hoping to become the only non-Congress government to win a consecutive term. In 2016, the BJP alliance won 86 of the 126 Assembly seats. Sixty four is the halfway mark. Most exit polls have given the saffron party a comfortable majority in the range of 70-80 seats while the Congress-led Grand Alliance is predicted to win around 45-55 seats.

The BJP, through the election campaign, sought to politicise the issue of the immigrant influx in Assam, often accusing the previous Congress governments of harbouring illegal Muslim immigrants in exchange for political support.

The state voted in three phases - March 27, April 1 and April 6 - and saw a 79.93 per cent, 80.96 per cent and 82.33 per cent turnout respectively.

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