May 19 : Counting of votes polled in the May 16 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu began at 0800 hrs today amidst tight security. The process commenced at 68 centres with the counting of postal ballots taken up initially and followed by the votes polled in the EVMs. Initial trends would be known by 0900 hrs and the first results were expected by noon. The entire process was expected to be over by 1500 hrs. Web cameras have been instealled in each table at the counting centres.
The state had witnessed 74.26 per cent polling with 5.79 crore voters casting their ballot in 232 constituencies for which elections were held. As many as 3,728 candidates, including 318 women, two transgenders and 1,566 Independent were in the fray. Of the total 234 constituencies, elections to Aravakurichi and Thanjavur Assembly segments were deferred to May 23 following complaints of large scale distribution of money to the voters allegedly by the AIADMK and the DMK. The elections would detremine the fortunes of four CM aspirants including AIADMK Supremo and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who is aiming to create a record of sorts by retaining power for a second successive term and emulate her political mentor and party Founder MGR. Others included DMK President M Karunanidhi was seeking a record 13th consecutive win in Assembly polls. The ‘Third Front’ of DMDK-PWF-TMC PMK’s combine has projected Actor and DMDK chief Vijayakanth as the CM candidate, while the PMK has named its youth wing leader and sitting Lok Sabha member Dr Anbumani as CM nominee. Ms Jayalalithaa, who had singlehandedly decimated the entire Opposition by winning a whopping 37 of the 39 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, contested from R K Nagar again for a second term. She is facing 44 opponents, the largest number of candidates in a constituency in this elections. Mr Karunanidhi too was seeking re-election from his home turf of Tiruvarur. The fate of prominent leaders like DMK Chief’s son M K Stalin (Kolathur), Vijaykanth (Ulundurpet), Ms Tamizhisai (Virugambakkam), VCK leader and former MP Thol Thirumavalavan (Kattumannarkovil), former Union Minister Dr Anbumani (Pennagaram) and Panneerselvam (Bodinayakkanur) would also be known today. (Agencies)
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