Thiruvananthapuram: Ruling UDF leaders were confident of retaining power and the NDA expected up to seven seats to start with, in the 140-member Assembly, while CPM leaders claimed 95 seats, buoyed by exit poll predictions.
Countdown for top guns
Counting of votes for the Assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Puducherry will be held on morning with trends expected to be available by 11 am. The ‘ballot unit’ is switched on in the presence of poll officials and counting agents of candidates and the result command keyed in to get results per machine.
If exit poll predictions for Kerala are true, the state’s pattern of alternating governance will hold good and if not, Mr Chandy could be credited with bucking the trend.
When reporters pointed out that the exit polls had predicted a victory for the LDF, the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said previous results were based on exit polls while on Thursday “you will get results based on people’s verdict. He was sure BJP will come a cropper.
Opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan said the LDF tally would be in the range of 85 to 95 seats. “The party will decide the next CM”, he said, adding, that he was “willing to don the mantle if entrusted”. BJP did not make any fresh claims, but in private stuck to seven seats.
